Episodic memory is an aspect of our brain capacity that keeps what people learned and experienced during the past. When an individual reaches the age group of older adults, it is observed that the particular type of memory is frequently what deteriorates first.
Despite the numerous research applied to develop therapies and treatments to stall the phenomenon, the scientific community was not fortunate enough to formulate a solution. But in a new study, experts discovered a chance that might assist people with failing recollection.
Aerobic Exercise and Episodic Memory
According to the paper, aerobic exercise might hold one of the keys that could prolong a healthy episodic memory and prevent its earlier decline. However, the researchers emphasized that this approach, together with physical activity, could only work if the person started earlier enough in life.
Physical exercise promotes several benefits for people of all ages. These advantages include brain improvement, slow aging, and a healthy neural system.
On the other hand, previous research was not provided with comprehensive results on what can support episodic memories.
The latest meta-analysis on recollection enhancement observed that the approaches, as demonstrated by a series of studies, were each focused on improving the episodic memory of people who are either much older or already in a deep state of cognitive decline.
Due to the analysis, the new study experts examined not the older age groups but, the younger, middle-aged population.
According to the authors, aerobic exercise has potentially positive effects on the episodic memory of people 55 years old and younger, without dementia.
Inverse reported that 50 minutes of aerobic exercise carried out three days per week and continuous for 26 weeks would be sufficient for an evident difference.
Aerobic exercise targets a region of the brain called the hippocampus. This part is responsible for holding most of the memories people saved throughout their lives. Because of its complex functions, the hippocampus is also prone to age-related neurological issues compared to other parts of the grey matter.
Physical Activities Improve Recollection Ability
Aerobic exercise, which is only known to benefit people's oxygen intake and heart rate, is also connected with the volume of grey matter. In a separate study published in PNAS, it was found that regular exercise enlarges the grey matter compounds contained inside the hippocampus and helps the organ's functions to regulate.
With a serious commitment to physical activities, the subjects showed better performance in terms of memory-related tasks.
Unfortunately, like other meta-analyses on the correlation of episodic memory and aerobic exercise, the authors of the new research explained that they saw no benefits of the exercise to the recollection among older adults, regardless if they have cognitive decline or not.
The study, led by scholars from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, included 36 studies that examined data of over 2,750 participants. The study was published in Communications Medicine, titled "Aerobic exercise improves episodic memory in late adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis."
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