Although various scientific studies have proven the importance of regular exercise for the body, according to scientists, there is little evidence that it helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
And research over the past few decades has shown that exercise is good for the brain and cognition. This has influenced public health policy as some health agencies have recommended regular physical activity to maintain healthy memory, perception, thinking and reasoning skills.
But a new scientific review notes that there is “little evidence” of a positive association between regular exercise and better cognitive function in healthy people.
Researchers at the University of Granada focused on 109 studies involving more than 11,000 healthy people.
An analysis of the data found that there is no “strong causal evidence” to support the claim that it benefits brain health, although it’s unlikely that exercise will harm your brain.
They said the initial small positive effects of exercise on cognition disappeared after adjusting for factors related to how the studies were conducted.
For example, some studies have compared their exercise routine with a completely passive control group, while others have compared them with a less active control group. Not surprisingly, when active subjects were compared with sedentary controls, there was a greater advantage.
When the data was re-analyzed with these potential biases in mind, there was little evidence that exercise benefits the brain of a healthy individual.
The researchers hope their findings will serve as a call to rethink public health policies that encourage commitment to exercise based on its well-known cognitive benefits.
In an article published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, they explain that the benefits of exercise, especially in relation to physical health, are still sufficient to justify policies that promote their regular use in people’s daily lives.
They added: “What’s more, exercise brings not only physical benefits, but also social benefits, as we connect with others through forming social bonds and participating in group activities that give us a sense of belonging. And finally…the value of exercise may just lies in his nature, fun.”
Commenting on the study, Eva Hogerforst, professor of psychology at Loughborough University in England, said: “The results show that the effect of physical training on improving cognitive function is small, and this small effect becomes more effective with some key factors.”
The results of this study are unexpected as the current literature shows a strong association between exercise and cognition, which can be confirmed by the results of most of the meta-analyses (statistical analyzes) included in the review.
Moreover, previous studies have reported that exercise reduces the risk of dementia, which is characterized by cognitive decline.
In conclusion, the article provides food for thought on the effectiveness of physical exercises on cognition.
There are steps people can take to improve their brain health, as healthy eating and good sleep, along with socializing with other people, have been shown to benefit the brain.
All of these regular activities, including physical activity, are known to be positively associated with improved cognitive health, but the mechanisms that cause this are still unknown.
Source: Daily Mail
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