A study designed to determined if group exercise was beneficial with physiological and cognitive functioning found that people who exercise have significant improvements in reaction time, memory span, and measures of well-being.

A study at Ohio State University looked at the reaction times of 6,979 men and women with an age range of 18 to 94 years. The study was designed to evaluate the association of age, self-rated health, and walking activity with measures of cognitive functioning. The researchers concluded that exercise and overall health had a positive effect on age-related changes in reaction time. These results suggest a strong biological basis for the role of fitness in maintaining and enhancing central nervous system health and cognitive functioning.

Although exercise is usually promoted for weight loss and better heart health, there is growing evidence that regular physical activity helps ward off mental declines as people age, and may even protect against Alzheimer's disease. A new study out of Canada suggests that exercise cuts the risk of Alzheimer's and less-devastating mental losses, particularly in women.

In a 5-year study of men and women aged 65 and older, researchers found that exercisers were less likely to develop Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, and were less likely to see a drop-off in their mental abilities. The more a person exercised, the greater the protection for the brain. People with the highest activity levels were half as likely as inactive individuals to develop Alzheimer's, and were around 40% less likely to suffer any dementia or mental impairment, the report indicates.

Previous research has suggested exercise helps people retain their mental prowess as they age, and may even stave off Alzheimer's and other dementia. It has been suggested that because exercise helps maintain healthy blood flow and lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol, it may protect the brain just as it does the heart and other organs.

The investigators found that the more activity the nearly 5,000 study participants reported at the study's start, the less likely they were to suffer mental decline. People who exercised vigorously at least three times per week were considered highly active and had the lowest Alzheimer's risk. But those who engaged in light or moderate exercise also saw significant cuts in their risks for Alzheimer's and mental decline.

Women got the lion's share of these benefits. Although there was an association between exercise and lowered risk of mental decline among men, the researchers report, the link was not nearly as strong as that for women. The reasons are unclear.

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About the Author

Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and author specializing in the treatment of mental health using integrative medicine and natural therapies. She works with individuals, couples, and families at her office in San Jose, California. Dr. Fredricks' publications include the landmark book Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems. Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Dr. Randi Fredricks as articles often present the published results of the research of other professionals. Copyright © 2012. To cite this article, please use the following citation: Fredricks, R. (2008). Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health. Bloomington, IN: Author House.