Previous studies indicated exercise benefits brain health in older adults, but Canadian researchers found this effect varies by gender, with men benefiting more.
EurekAlert!, a news site hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recently reported that exercise enhances cardiorespiratory fitness, which correlates with strengthened neural connections in the brain's gray matter—signaling improved cognitive function. Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to the heart, lungs, and vascular system's capacity to deliver oxygen to muscle tissue cells for utilization.Researchers from York University and McGill University in Canada recruited groups of male and female volunteers, both averaging 67 years of age. Participants self-reported daily physical activity levels, provided measurements of height, weight, and age, underwent cardiorespiratory fitness assessments, and completed tests of brain neural function. Results showed male volunteers had higher cardiorespiratory fitness than female volunteers; stronger cardiorespiratory fitness was more closely linked to improved cognitive function in men.
This finding will be published in the American Journal of Applied Physiology. Researchers believe it demonstrates the importance of considering gender differences when studying the relationship between exercise and brain health in older adults.