Just Five Minutes of Daily Exercise Can boost Brain Health,Study Finds

The fact that physical and mental health are inextricably linked is what most experts agree on.Recent research published in the professional magazine Age and Aging provides new information. Researchers found that seniors who regularly engaged in some moderate to vigorous physical activity developed stronger cognitive abilities over time. Movement had a positive effect on their brain health – and that after just five minutes a day!

Garden Work Also Counts

585 healthy adults between the ages of 65 and 80 participated in the study. Their task was to wear a physical activity sensing device on their wrist for at least 16 hours a day during one week. It was crucial for the researchers that the respondents were engaged in half an hour of moderate to intense movement each day, which increased their heart rate. Along with fast walking,this category includes jogging,swimming,cycling,and even faster work in the garden,such as cutting grass,weeding,planting,or hoeing.

Five Minutes of Walking Instead of five minutes of Sleep

Through a series of neurological tests, the researchers verified that along with the increased heart rate due to movement, the participants’ ability to process information improved.The same was true of short-term memory and the ability to concentrate and perform tasks.

The same result was achieved when the seniors took five minutes from othre parts of the day – time spent sleeping, sitting, or in light movement – and filled it with more intense activity.

[Image of people gardening with caption: You don’t need to change into sportswear and head to the gym. Just occasionally engage in your favorite activity at a brisk pace. Not only your heart will thank you,but your brain will too.]