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Ageing, fitness and neurocognitive function

Author

Listed:
  • Arthur F. Kramer

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Sowon Hahn

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Neal J. Cohen

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Marie T. Banich

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Edward McAuley

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Catherine R. Harrison

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Julie Chason

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Eli Vakil

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Lynn Bardell

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Richard A. Boileau

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Angela Colcombe

    (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

In the ageing process, neural areas1,2 and cognitive processes3,4 do not degrade uniformly. Executive control processes and the prefrontal and frontal brain regions that support them show large and disproportionate changes with age. Studies of adult animals indicate that metabolic5 and neurochemical6 functions improve with aerobic fitness. We therefore investigated whether greater aerobic fitness in adults would result in selective improvements in executive control processes, such as planning, scheduling, inhibition and working memory. Over a period of six months, we studied 124 previously sedentary adults, 60 to 75 years old, who were randomly assigned to either aerobic (walking) or anaerobic (stretching and toning) exercise. We found that those who received aerobic training showed substantial improvements in performance on tasks requiring executive control compared with anaerobically trained subjects.

Suggested Citation

  • Arthur F. Kramer & Sowon Hahn & Neal J. Cohen & Marie T. Banich & Edward McAuley & Catherine R. Harrison & Julie Chason & Eli Vakil & Lynn Bardell & Richard A. Boileau & Angela Colcombe, 1999. "Ageing, fitness and neurocognitive function," Nature, Nature, vol. 400(6743), pages 418-419, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:400:y:1999:i:6743:d:10.1038_22682
    DOI: 10.1038/22682
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kenneth Manton & Igor Akushevich & Alexander Kulminski, 2008. "Human Mortality at Extreme Ages: Data from the NLTCS and Linked Medicare Records," Mathematical Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 137-159.
    2. Benjamin Aretz & Gabriele Doblhammer & Fanny Janssen, 2018. "Effects of Changes in Living Environment on Physical Health: A Prospective Cohort Study of Movers and Non-Movers in Germany," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 997, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    3. Ursula Staudinger, 2006. "Konsequenzen des demographischen Wandels für betriebliche Handlungsfelder: eine interdisziplinäre Perspektive," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 58(5), pages 690-698, August.
    4. Philip Furley & Daniel Memmert, 2013. "“Whom Should I Pass To?” The More Options the More Attentional Guidance from Working Memory," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Ellen Carl & Alina Shevorykin & Amylynn Liskiewicz & Ronald Alberico & Ahmed Belal & Martin Mahoney & Elizabeth Bouchard & Andrew Ray & Christine E. Sheffer, 2021. "Increasing Physical Activity among Breast Cancer Survivors by Modulating Temporal Orientation with rTMS: Feasibility and Potential Efficacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, September.
    6. Keita Kamijo & Seongryu Bae & Hiroaki Masaki, 2016. "The Association of Childhood Fitness to Proactive and Reactive Action Monitoring," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, March.
    7. Jean de Dieu Habyarimana & Etienne Tugirumukiza & Ke Zhou, 2022. "Physical Education and Sports: A Backbone of the Entire Community in the Twenty-First Century," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-19, June.
    8. Macarena Sánchez-Izquierdo & Rocío Fernández-Ballesteros, 2021. "Cognition in Healthy Aging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-28, January.
    9. Alejandro Sabarit & Rafael E. Reigal & Juan P. Morillo-Baro & Rocío Juárez-Ruiz de Mier & Auxiliadora Franquelo & Antonio Hernández-Mendo & Coral Falcó & Verónica Morales-Sánchez, 2020. "Cognitive Functioning, Physical Fitness, and Game Performance in a Sample of Adolescent Soccer Players," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-12, June.
    10. Roman Goenarjo & Laurent Bosquet & Nicolas Berryman & Valentine Metier & Anaick Perrochon & Sarah Anne Fraser & Olivier Dupuy, 2020. "Cerebral Oxygenation Reserve: The Relationship Between Physical Activity Level and the Cognitive Load During a Stroop Task in Healthy Young Males," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-14, February.
    11. Dong, Yizhe & Duan, Tinghua & Hou, Wenxuan & Liu, Yue (Lucy), 2019. "Athletes in boardrooms: Evidence from the world," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 165-183.
    12. Liya Xu & Hongyi Gu & Xiaowan Cai & Yimin Zhang & Xiao Hou & Jingjing Yu & Tingting Sun, 2023. "The Effects of Exercise for Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.
    13. Rafael Ballester & Florentino Huertas & Francisco Javier Yuste & Francesc Llorens & Daniel Sanabria, 2015. "The Relationship between Regular Sports Participation and Vigilance in Male and Female Adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-12, April.

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