How Aerobic Exercise Boosts Working Memory and Brain Health in Aging Adults

As we age, several cognitive functions can become affected such as long-term memory, problem solving, and executive functioning. Studies have established variation in cognitive decline and lifestyle factors in older adults, particularly highlighting an associated between exercise and optimization of working memory. Using functional neuroimaging, studies show that working memory involves primarily the prefrontal cortex, the posterior parietal cortex, insula, and the cingulate cortex. 

To better understand the relationship between aerobic exercise and working memory in aging adults, prefrontal activation was analyzed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Greater activation of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and frontal polar area in aerobically fit older adults was seen when completing working memory tasks when compared to younger adults. Findings suggest that aging adults may adopt more compensatory activation of the prefrontal cortex brain regions. 

Another interesting element of this study showed that older adults with greater aerobic fitness capacities had shorter reaction times to working memory tasks. The multitask neural processes at play may be more efficient because of aerobic fitness. The mechanisms of these results could point to enhancement of neural and synaptic plasticity as a result of aerobic fitness in order to ulitize greater neural resources to produce cognitive output like working memory in aging adults. 

Sources: 

Hyodo, K., et al. (2024). Neural mechanisms of the relationship between aerobic fitness and working memory in older adults: An fNIRS study. Imaging Neuroscience