Physical activity: a real medicine for the aging brain

The brain can renew itself, even in advanced age, thanks to physical activity. For a long time, it was believed that once a certain age was reached, the mind would inevitably begin to degenerate, but this is not entirely true. Certainly, after the age of seventy, the loss of nerve cells reaches its peak, but engaging in physical activity helps slow down this process. Protecting brain health in later life also means allowing the mind to develop all its abilities, since certain skills reach their highest level only in the most mature phase of life, making this period precious and full of meaning.

Brain health comes from walking

A study recently published in Neuroimage shows that regular motor activity promotes neurogenesis, that is, the production of new neurons. This results in improved cognitive abilities in terms of memoryMemory is a fundamental cognitive function that consists in ... More, creativity, speed in processing information, problem-solving, and visuospatial skills. A study by the American Psychological Association confirmed the relationship between daily steps and various cognitive domains in healthy older adults, including attention, language, and executive functionsThe term 'executive functions' refers to a set of mental pro... More. An in vitro study published in Frontiers in NeuroscienceThe human brain is one of the most complex and fascinating s... More draws attention to the legs: limiting their movement could reduce neural stem cells by 70%, which would otherwise differentiate into neurons.

Walking is an essential element for our overall health. A 2022 study in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests 10,000 steps per day to reduce mortality, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Research published in the Journal of Preventive Cardiology even shows that health benefits continue to increase, at least up to 20,000 steps per day. On the other hand, the National Institutes of Health states that even 4,400 steps per day, regardless of the intensity of physical activity, bring significant benefits. In short, walking always leads toward better health.

World Health Organization: adults are too sedentary

Adults engage in too little physical activity. This is revealed by a survey conducted by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and published in The Lancet Global HealthWhat is the definition of health proposed by the WHO in 1948... More. According to this study, in 2022 one third of the world’s adults did not achieve the 150 minutes of weekly physical activity recommended by WHO to protect overall health. This is a concerning figure, especially for those over 65, due to the risks associated with inactivity. A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and also dementiaDementia is a medical condition characterized by the progres... More. Being physically active, therefore, is necessary both to prevent conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, and to ensure brain health, which through movement can produce new neurons and fight inflammation more effectively.

Physical activity: protecting the brain with Quadrato Motor Training

There are many activities older adults can practice to keep the brain healthy, as long as they are carried out according to their age and health conditions. Intense physical effort is not necessary; moderate exercise, performed consistently and with enjoyment, is enough. Physical exercise also helps “release” daily fears and anxietyAnxiety is an emotional response characterized by feelings o... More, acting as an antidepressant and facilitating interaction with others, another factor that helps counter the onset of brain disorders. Walking is among the most recommended activities, but also swimming, gentle gymnastics, and Pilates.

The Quadrato Motor Training is a motor training technique specifically aimed at improving a person’s cognitive functions. This mindful movement practice consists of performing specific movements in response to verbal instructions. The results, collected by the RINED Research Institute of the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, in collaboration with several universities around the world, are promising: QMT improves creative thinking, time perceptionTime perception is one of the most fascinating phenomena of ... More, information processing ability, spatial cognition, and neural plasticity.

 

 

The aging brain: when crystallized intelligence reaches its peak

Physical exercise is not the only path to health: reading, solving mathematical calculations, and engaging in group games or brain training activities can also be useful for keeping the brain trained. Ensuring its proper functioning is important not only to preserve abilities developed during youth, but also to allow new skills to emerge.

Every age has its own form of intelligence. This is what emerges from a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts General Hospital. According to the researchers, while fluid intelligence, which includes abilities such as remembering, performing calculations, and processing information, reaches its peak around the age of forty, a different situation applies to crystallized intelligence. Also called accumulated intelligence, it is characterized by strong analytical ability and consists of the set of acquired knowledge, facts, feelings, and lived experiences. Its peak is reached between the ages of sixty and seventy, a sign that older people are an important resource for themselves and for society.

Later life, therefore, is not simply a period of decline aimed only at counteracting the inevitable loss of abilities developed in earlier stages of life. It is possible to grow old rich in resources and with a strong cognitive reserve, able to interpret situations more deeply thanks to the knowledge and experiences accumulated throughout life. Aging, therefore, does not mean getting worse. It means changing and even improving and evolving.