Study: Active individuals have more robust brains

By Scott Douglas

Being physically fit can prevent brain atrophy and may ward off dementia, according to a study published in the December 2012 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

The study collected data on more than 750 adults regarding physical activity levels, and compared that MRIs of the participants' frontal and temporal lobes of the brain over an eight-year period. The results demonstrated that physical activity level was a significant predictor of frontal lobe atrophy progression, suggesting that exercise and physical activity can help keep the brain healthy as well as the rest of the body.

“The results of this study showed that adults with lower energy expenditure were at risk for frontal lobe atrophy progression. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine can be a helpful step to prevent conditions caused by brain atrophy, such as dementia,” said the primary investigator, Atsumu Yuki, Ph.D., of the Center for Development of Advanced Medicine for Dementia in Japan.

This study contributes to the growing body of evidence that exercise has important long-term mental benefits. The new study complements one we reported on previously, showing that active people in their 70s have less brain shrinkage than their sedentary contemporaries.

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