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Pennsylvania, November 13, 2024 – Everyday physical movement, even as simple as walking or doing household chores, could improve cognitive health in middle-aged adults, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine. The study suggests that such everyday activities may enhance cognitive processing speed, essentially making the brain function as if it were four years younger.
The research, published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine, adds to a growing body of evidence linking physical activity to improved brain health and reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia. However, while previous studies have typically focused on the long-term effects of exercise, this study highlights the short-term cognitive benefits that can arise from routine, everyday movements.
Dr. Jonathan Hakun, assistant professor of neurology and psychology at Penn State, and a lead author of the study, emphasized that people don’t need to commit to rigorous gym routines to see cognitive benefits. “All movement is important. Everyday movement counts as a source of accumulated physical activity that could be credited toward a healthy lifestyle and may have some direct impact on cognitive health,” Hakun explained.
To conduct the study, the research team used smartphone technology to capture data from participants multiple times a day over nine days, applying a protocol known as ecological momentary assessment. This approach enabled participants to report their recent physical activities approximately every 3.5 hours and to rate these activities based on their intensity—light, moderate, or vigorous. Following each activity report, participants completed brief “brain games” designed to measure cognitive processing speed and working memory.
Analyzing data from 204 middle-aged participants between 40 and 65 years old, the study revealed that those who had been active in the preceding hours showed notable improvements in processing speed, comparable to the cognitive performance of someone four years younger. While no significant changes were seen in working memory, the response times on memory tasks still improved, matching the enhancements in processing speed.
“We get slower as we age, both physically and cognitively,” Hakun said. “The idea here is that we can momentarily counteract that through movement. It’s compelling. There’s potential for even a brief walk or a little extra movement to give you a boost.”
The study found that participants who engaged in regular, frequent physical activity showed greater cognitive benefits than those who were less active. This suggests that cognitive health gains might increase with consistent movement, though Hakun noted that further research is needed to pinpoint the optimal amount, timing, and intensity of activity for cognitive health benefits.
The researchers hope to extend this study by pairing ecological momentary assessments with activity-monitoring tools to better track the links between physical activity, behavior, and cognitive function. Future research aims to examine how everyday movement affects cognitive health over a longer timeframe, comparing changes in cognitive health against those typical of aging.
For those looking to keep their brains sharper as they age, the message is clear: any kind of movement matters, and it could make a real difference.
More information: Jonathan G Hakun et al, “Cognitive Health Benefits of Everyday Physical Activity in a Diverse Sample of Middle-Aged Adults,” Annals of Behavioral Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaae059
