Prolonged Inactivity Negatively Impacts Memory, Research Cautions
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of Jyväskylä have found a significant link between sports and cognitive performance, particularly in the area of working memory.
The study, which was published this month in the journal Memory, aimed to understand the connection between exercise and cognitive performance. Plenty of research has already found that exercise can bolster our memory, and this latest research suggests that the benefits extend beyond the younger population.
The researchers analyzed 21 studies involving 1,455 participants, with most athletes being basketball, baseball, or fencing players. The studies analyzed were judged to have a low risk of bias, indicating a high study quality.
The research found that athletes consistently have better working memory than non-athletes. Working memory is the aspect of cognition that allows us to juggle small amounts of information at once to perform tasks.
The advantage was even larger when athletes were compared to sedentary people, who engage in very little physical activity. Sedentary lifestyles are associated with working memory disadvantages.
The study also highlighted the value of encouraging people to play sports and stay active. The benefits of sports and an active lifestyle aren't just limited to younger people; regular exercise is tied to improvements in working memory among older people, helping to stave off age-related declines in memory as we get older.
The authors of the study emphasize the importance of their findings, stating that they could have significant implications for public health policy and the promotion of physical activity. The researchers involved in the project include a team from the University of Münster, who studied the positive correlation between fitness and cognitive control in patients with depression, and a research team from the University of Minnesota, who developed an AI-driven neurostimulation system to improve attention.
This research is the latest to indicate that exercise is beneficial for brain power, particularly as we age. As we continue to learn more about the connection between sports and cognitive performance, it becomes increasingly clear that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.
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