Exercise is Medicine for the Aging Brain
Click name to view affiliation
Search for other papers by Teresa Liu-Ambrose in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by John R. Best in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Cognitive decline is a common feature of aging. Physical activity is a modifiable lifestyle factor that has been identified as positively impacting cognitive health of older adults. Here, we review the current evidence from epidemiological (i.e., longitudinal cohort) and intervention studies on the role of physical activity and exercise in promoting cognitive health in older adults both with and without cognitive impairment. We highlight some of the potential underlying mechanisms and discuss some of the potential modifying factors, including exercise type and target population, by reviewing recent converging behavioral, neuroimaging, and biomarker evidence linking physical activity with cognitive health. We conclude with limitations and future directions for this rapidly expanding line of research.
Liu-Ambrose and Best are with the Faculty of Medicine, Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
© 2023 Human Kinetics