Stints of exercise can boost brain power in over-50s, say experts

Several types of exercise help improve thinking, attention, memory skills and executive function (mental skills that help people get things done), a new analysis of 39 studies found.

Aerobic exercise such as swimming, cycling and jogging; resistance training including weights, multicomponent training (such as combined aerobic and weight training) and tai chi were all “similarly effective”, experts writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine said.

“Positive benefits to cognition occurred with an exercise intervention that included tai chi, or resistance and aerobic training, prescribed either in isolation or combined,” they said.

And the benefits were irrespective of the current state of an individual’s brain health, they added.

While previous studies have shown that exercise helps boost brain power, the researchers said theirs is the most comprehensive study to date.

Dr Allison Smith, head of strategy and development for Royal Voluntary Service, said: “Resistance-based exercise is critical as we get older, particularly following a period of illness, surgery or accident as we are most at risk of losing of muscle mass and strength.”