A recent study published online on July 8, 2024, in the journal Aging and Disease has found that regular exercise can enhance cognitive abilities and may lower the risk of dementia. The research indicates that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) could be particularly beneficial for brain health compared to less vigorous exercise routines.
The study involved 151 healthy adults aged 65 to 86, who participated in a six-month exercise program. Researchers assessed the participants’ hippocampus function, a brain region crucial for learning and memory. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three 30-minute exercise routines: balance and stretching, brisk walking on a treadmill, or HIIT on a treadmill. The HIIT regimen included four-minute intervals of intense exercise at 85% to 95% of maximum heart rate, followed by three-minute recovery periods.
All participants completed approximately 30-minute workouts three times a week for six months, totaling 72 sessions. Follow-up tests revealed that only those who engaged in HIIT demonstrated significant improvements in hippocampus function compared to their initial assessments. Remarkably, five years later, only the HIIT group maintained their cognitive improvements, even after discontinuing the HIIT workouts.
These findings underscore the potential of HIIT in promoting long-term brain health among older adults.
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