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Chronic exercise preserves brain function in masters athletes when compared to sedentary counterparts
Emily Zhao1, Michael J Tranovich1, Ron DeAngelo2
1a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.
The Physician and Sportsmedicine
|October 30, 2015
Summary
Masters athletes demonstrate superior verbal memory and reaction times compared to non-athletes. Regular physical activity may preserve cognitive function and enhance physical health in aging adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- Exercise positively impacts cognitive function, potentially by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurogenesis.
- Physical activity is linked to attenuated age-related cognitive decline and preserved mental capacities in older adults.
- Masters athletes represent a population with high levels of sustained physical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cognitive function of masters athletes compared to age-matched non-athletes.
- To assess neurocognitive performance using the Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) tool.
- To investigate the relationship between chronic physical activity and cognitive preservation in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Recruited masters athletes and sedentary controls, excluding individuals with neurological or psychiatric conditions.
- Administered the ImPACT neurocognitive test to measure verbal/visual memory and reaction time.
- Utilized the SF-12 health survey to assess physical health components.
Main Results:
- Masters athletes exhibited significantly higher verbal memory scores (p=0.01) and faster reaction times (p=0.04) on the ImPACT test.
- Athletes also reported significantly higher scores on the physical components summary of the SF-12 (p=0.004).
- Analysis included 51 pairs of athletes and non-athletes.
Conclusions:
- Masters athletes outperform non-athletes in verbal memory, reaction time, and physical function.
- Chronic physical activity may play a crucial role in preserving neurocognitive processes.
- Sustained physical activity and enhanced physical health appear protective against age-related cognitive decline.
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