"There is a significant literature showing that exercise/physical activity boosts cognition across the lifespan and conversely that lack of physical activity places us at risk of a number of problems, including medical conditions and mental health disorders, which have negative effects on cognition. Consequently, there is a strong argument to be made for maintaining an active lifestyle, since physical activity both boosts cognitive performance and health, and prevents problems down the road."
"There are a number of tried and true ways to maintain and improve cognition. These are strategies you've all heard of before but maybe haven't looked at in the context of your cognition. These strategies include diet/ nutrition, stress management, sleep, and physical activity. In this post we are going to look at the power of exercise and physical activity in maintaining and boosting cognition, recognizing that a combination of the aforementioned strategies yields greater results."
"What kind of physical exercise or activity is recommended? A perfect answer is not yet available, but here is some information to help guide your decisions: A large meta-analytic study published in 2020 found that one session of cardio or resistance training had immediate positive effects on attention, processing speed, and inhibition. Notably, significantly fatiguing exercise sessions did not appear to have cognitive benefits in the short term."
Exercise and physical activity improve cognitive function across the lifespan and reduce the risk of medical and mental health problems that impair cognition. Single sessions of cardio or resistance training can produce immediate gains in attention, processing speed, and inhibition, while overly fatiguing workouts may not offer short-term cognitive benefits. Routine exercise programs that include varied modalities tend to yield greater cognitive and health benefits. Combining physical activity with good nutrition, stress management, and adequate sleep produces additive improvements. Maintaining an active lifestyle supports performance demands and helps prevent future cognitive decline.
#exercise-and-cognition #cardio--resistance-training #attention-and-processing-speed #lifestyle-factors
Read at Psychology Today
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