Physical Activity Found to Support Cognitive Health in Older Adults

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According to a recent study published in the journal Human Brain Mapping, physical activity can play a significant role in supporting cognitive health in older adults. The study, titled "Physical Activity and BrainAGE: Exploring the Impact on Brain Health and Plasticity in Older Adults," aimed to investigate the effects of multi-component physical activity on cognitive and brain health in healthy older adults. The researchers found that physical activity can promote plasticity, functional reorganization, and structural adaptation of the brain, ultimately contributing to a decrease in brain age.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 92 healthy older adults who were randomized into a physical activity group and an active control group, with the physical activity group performing aerobic, coordination, and balance exercises, and the active control group engaging in non-aerobic relaxation exercises and educational content.
  • The researchers used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess changes in brain structure and estimated brain age (BrainAGE) based on structural MRI data.
  • The results revealed a greater decrease in brain age in the physical activity group compared to the control group, indicating a beneficial effect of physical activity on brain aging.
  • Subgroup analyses showed that participants with lower baseline cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) showed greater benefits from physical activity, consistent with VBM findings of structural changes in the same subgroup.
  • The study concluded that BrainAGE is a sensitive biomarker for intervention outcomes and that stratification by baseline fitness level may help identify differences in the benefits of physical activity on brain health.

Statistics:

  • 92 healthy older adults were involved in the study, with 36 participants in the physical activity group and 33 participants in the active control group.
  • 69 participants underwent MRI assessment and were included in the present analyses.
  • The researchers found a greater decrease in brain age in the physical activity group compared to the control group, indicating a beneficial effect of physical activity on brain aging.
  • Participants with lower baseline CRF showed greater benefits from physical activity, with a 30% decrease in brain age compared to a 15% decrease in the control group.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Data from Jena University Hospital Advance Knowledge in Science (Physical Activity and BrainAGE: Exploring the Impact on Brain Health and Plasticity in Older Adults). Science Letter. October 31, 2025; p 113.
  • Physical Activity and BrainAGE: Exploring the Impact on Brain Health and Plasticity in Older Adults. Human Brain Mapping, 2025;46(15). Human Brain Mapping can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.