* It can be 鈥榓 great way for consumers to stay mentally sharp鈥� 鈹�Researchers

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Amid several months of total or partial lockdowns and subsequent limited movements by millions of consumers at the outbreak of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in several economies across the world, experts say even those who have more sedentary lifestyles could see improvements in cognitive function through aerobic exercise.

Recent studies have found how different types of exercise 鈹� everything from yoga to high intensity interval training 鈹� can help boost consumers鈥� brain function.

According to the researchers from the American Academy of Neurology, engaging in aerobic exercise can be a great way for consumers to stay mentally sharp, reports ConsumerAffairs.

The findings were overwhelmingly positive, even for those who were older and didn鈥檛 exercise on a regular basis.

Researcher Marc J. Poulin, PhD, said: 鈥淎s we all find out eventually, we lose a bit mentally and physically as we age.

鈥淏ut even if you start an exercise program later in life, the benefit to your brain may be immense. Sure, aerobic exercise gets blood moving through your body.

鈥淎s our study found, it may also get blood moving to your brain, particularly in areas responsible for verbal fluency and executive functions.

鈥淥ur findings may be important, especially for older adults at risk for Alzheimer鈥檚 and other dementias and brain disease.鈥�

Boosting brain function

The report indicates that the researchers had over 200 participants involved in the study. On average, the participants were in their mid- to late sixties.

Before the study, members of the group admitted that they only engaged in minimal, mild workouts. The researchers recorded a baseline of their vitals, including their physical fitness and cognitive function.

The experiment went on for six months, during which the participants were guided through an aerobic exercise three times per week. The exercise routine started off mild and intensified as the study progressed.

Halfway through the study, the researchers reassessed the participants鈥� physical capacities. They then evaluated both physical and mental faculties at the six-month mark.

By the end of the six months, the researchers found noticeable improvements to the participants鈥� cognitive function.

Not only did they notice greater blood flow to different parts of the brain, but when it came time to check memory and verbal skills, the participants scored higher after adopting an exercise routine.

The improvements they observed in the participants鈥� ability to recall information were equivalent to 鈥渨hat you鈥檇 expect to see in someone five years younger,鈥� said Dr. Poulin.

Said he: 鈥淥ur study showed that six months of vigorous exercise may pump blood to regions of the brain that specifically improve your verbal skills as well as memory and mental sharpness.

鈥淎t a time when these results would be expected to be decreasing due to normal aging, to have these types of increases is exciting.鈥�