3 Simple Activities That Can Improve Cognitive Function in Older Adults

Playing a single 18-hole round of golf or completing 6km of regular Nordic walking or walking can significantly improve immediate cognitive function in older adults, according to a recent study published in BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine.

An international research team, comprising members from the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Edinburgh and ETH Zrich, sought to discover the immediate effects of three specific cognitively demanding aerobic activities on cognition and associated biological responses in older, healthy participants.

Study Design and Methodology

The study involved 25 healthy elderly golfers, aged 65 and over, who participated in three different aerobic exercise sessions: an 18-hole round of golf, a 6km Nordic walking session and a regular 6km walking session. Each exercise was performed in a real environment, with participants maintaining their typical pace, corresponding to a brisk walk.

Cognitive function was assessed using the Trail-Making Test (TMT) A and B, a widely used tool to assess cognitive function in the elderly. The TMT-A test measures lower cognitive functions such as attention and processing speed, while the TMT-B test measures more demanding executive functions such as task switching ability. Additionally, blood samples were collected to measure brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cathepsin B (CTSB) levels.

It has been suggested that both reflect the benefits of exercise on the brain. Participants also used fitness tracking devices to record exercise-specific data such as distance, duration, pace, energy expenditure and steps. A chest strap ECG sensor was used to monitor heart rate.

Study results

The study showed that a single session of any of three exercises 18 holes of golf, 6 km of Nordic walking or 6 km of regular walking improved lower cognitive functions measured with the TMT-A test in older adults, although no significant effect. has been observed. seen in BDNF and CTSB levels. Additionally, Nordic walking and regular walking have been associated with improved executive functions measured with the TMT-B test.

Previous research has indicated the potential cognitive benefits of acute bouts of aerobic exercise, with factors such as intensity, duration and type of exercise influencing the extent of improvement.

These findings highlight the value of age-appropriate aerobic exercise, such as golf, Nordic walking and regular walking, in maintaining and improving cognitive function among older adults. Previous research has shown that exercise also holds promise as a potential strategy for those suffering from cognitive decline, says Julia Kettinen, the paper’s first author and a PhD researcher in Sports and Exercise Medicine at the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland. .

Reference: Cognitive and biomarker responses in healthy elderly people to an 18-hole round of golf and different types of walking: a randomized crossover study by Julia Kettinen, Heikki Tikkanen, Mikko Hiltunen, Andrew Murray, Nils Horn, William R Taylor and Mika Venojrvi, October 1, 2023,BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine.
DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001629