This Habit May Actually Make Your Brain Measurably Younger, New Study Says.
What Did the Study Find?
After 12 months, clear differences emerged between the two groups. Participants in the exercise group showed a measurable decrease in brain age—their brains looked about 0.6 years younger at the end of the study compared to the beginning. Meanwhile, the control group showed a slight increase in brain age (about 0.35 years older), though this change wasn’t statistically significant.
When the researchers compared the two groups directly, the gap was close to one full year in favor of the exercise group. Unsurprisingly, the exercise group also showed significant improvements in fitness. Interestingly, the researchers also found that higher fitness levels at the start of the study were associated with younger-looking brains.
There are some important limitations to keep in mind. The study involved healthy, relatively well-educated volunteers, and the sample size was modest. The COVID-19 pandemic also affected participation, as some people had to continue exercising at home during shutdowns. Additionally, while the researchers explored potential explanations for why exercise improved brain age—including changes in fitness, body composition, blood pressure and a brain protein called BDNF—none of these factors fully explained the effect. The exact mechanism remains unknown.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
“People often ask, Is there anything I can do now to protect my brain later? Our findings support the idea that following current exercise guidelines—150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity—may help keep the brain biologically younger, even in midlife,” senior author and neuroscientist Kirk I. Erickson, Ph.D., says in a press release.2
The focus on midlife is particularly important. Many studies on exercise and brain health have concentrated on older adults, after age-related changes have already become more pronounced. This study suggests that starting earlier—in your 30s, 40s and 50s—may offer greater benefits over time by giving your brain a head start against aging.
If you’re not currently meeting the 150-minute-per-week recommendation, don’t worry. You can start where you are. Try adding short walks throughout your day, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or scheduling a few sessions at the gym each week. Activities like brisk walking, cycling, swimming and dancing all count as moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise. The key is consistency: Participants in this study exercised regularly for a full year to see results.
If you have any health conditions or haven’t exercised in a while, talk to your health care provider before starting a new fitness routine. They can help you create a plan that’s safe, approachable and effective for your individual needs.
Our Expert Take
A new study in the Journal of Sport and Health Science suggests that following basic aerobic exercise guidelines—150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity—can make your brain appear measurably younger on MRI scans. After one year, adults who exercised regularly showed brains that looked nearly a year younger than those who didn’t change their habits. While the changes were modest, researchers believe that even small shifts in brain age during midlife could add up to meaningful protection against cognitive decline later on. So if you’ve been looking for motivation to move more, consider this. Your brain will thank you.
For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
