It is established that cardiorespiratory fitness safeguards against cognitive deterioration in the elderly. Research has demonstrated that engaging in physical activity and maintaining fitness levels are advantageous for preserving executive functions, which are essential for sustaining independence into later life.
The research aimed to explore the impact of physical health on aging, particularly on two key aspects of executive function: attentional control and response inhibition. These functions involve the capacity to concentrate solely on pertinent stimuli and to prevent instinctive reactions, respectively. The flanker task, a specific exercise used in the study, tests these abilities by requiring participants to respond only to a disk with a specific central color, ignoring surrounding disks of different colors.
Following an initial screening to confirm participants’ capability to undertake the task and to exclude any with disqualifying conditions, the study ultimately included 115 participants, who averaged 82.4 years old. To assess their cardiorespiratory fitness, participants performed a step test that involved rapidly lifting their knees to a predetermined height for a duration of two minutes. Additionally, their brain activity was monitored using electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, which were then analyzed in relation to their performance in the study.
The flanker test was administered in three distinct modes: congruent, where the flanking discs matched the color of the central disc; neutral, where the flanking discs were a completely different color; and incongruent, where the flanking discs were of a contrasting color. Consistent with expectations, subtle variations were observed in the participants’ EEG findings across these three test conditions.
Through a mediation analysis, it was discovered that physical fitness enhanced performance across all three versions of the test. A closer look at the EEG data revealed that this enhancement was attributed to improved early visual processing abilities. Individuals with higher fitness levels demonstrated quicker initial response times. Additionally, they exhibited more robust motor-related potentials in the cortex, although this did not appear to directly correlate with better performance on the tasks.
The researchers hypothesize that their findings indicate the necessity for regular engagement of specific brain areas to sustain performance levels in the “oldest old” group. Essentially, they suggest that the superior motor-related and early visual processing capabilities observed in more physically active older individuals could stem from their consistent use of these functions. They further theorize that to preserve the brain regions associated with more complex cognitive tasks, engaging in mentally stimulating activities is crucial.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive performance in 80 +- year-olds: Detangling processing levels
