Sourced from CNN | July 21, 2022
Women may benefit a bit more from exercise than men
Keeping your body and brain fit has long been a prescription for better mental health as you age. But a new study has shown that women's mental processing speed may actually benefit (more than men) from a boost of exercise, such as light walking or biking for at least 15 minutes a week.
Cognitive aging happens when your brain starts to delay its processing speed. And being able to think more quickly helps with planning, problem-solving, staying focused on tasks, and the ability to engage in conversations with others.
“We found that greater physical activity was associated with greater thinking speed reserve in women, but not in men.
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Mental processing speed in both genders benefited from cognitive activities such as playing card games and reading, according to a study found by Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Taking part in more mental activities was associated with greater thinking speed reserve for both men and women
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However — any positive association between cognitive activities and memory reserve only applied to women, the study has found.
Any woman reading this can feel empowered to take control of their brain health today by staying physically active and cognitively engaged. In this study, a twofold increase in physical activity was equivalent to about 2.75 fewer years of processing speed aging in women. Further, each extra cognitive activity corresponded to 13 fewer years of processing speed aging on average between women and men.
Adding brisk walking or biking to weekly activities boosts brain speed in women, a new study found.
Processing speed, not memory
The study questioned 758 people with an average age of 76 about their weekly physical and mental activities. Participants earned points for each of three categories of cognitive engagement: taking classes on various subjects; playing cards, games or bingo; and reading magazines, newspapers or books.
Each person in the study underwent a brain scan and took thinking speed and memory tests: Some people showed signs of cognitive impairment and dementia while others had no thinking or memory problems. Researchers then compared those test results with brain scans of the hippocampus — the part of the brain associated with dementia.
The study revealed that each additional mental activity, such as playing cards or reading, lessened the aging of that person’s mental processing speed by an average of 13 years – 17 years among men and 10 years among women.
“As we have arguably few-to-no effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, prevention is crucial. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment.
To know that people could potentially improve their cognitive reserve by taking simple steps such as going to classes at the community center, playing bingo with their friends, or spending more time walking or gardening is very exciting.
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This is all good news, and, yet consider: Genetic risk for Alzheimer’s
It is important to note that people who carry at least one copy of a gene called APOE4 have a greater risk of developing the characteristic beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles of Alzheimer’s as they age. Women in the new study carrying an APOE4 gene did not see the same benefits to their cognitive reserve from additional physical and mental activities.
Any prevention plan should also include regular follow-up with a primary care physician, management of vascular risk factors like blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, avoiding smoking, minimizing alcohol use, prioritizing sleep, managing stress, and following a Mediterranean-style diet, among many other suggestions.
