Summary: Six weeks of high intensity exercise can significantly boost interference memory, a new study reports.
Source: McMaster University.
The health advantages of high-intensity exercise are widely known but new research from McMaster University points to another major benefit: better memory.
The findings could have implications for an aging population which is grappling with the growing problem of catastrophic diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Scientists have found that six weeks of intense exercise–short bouts of interval training over the course of 20 minutes–showed significant improvements in what is known as high-interference memory, which, for example, allows us to distinguish our car from another of the same make and model.
The study is published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
The findings are important because memory performance of the study participants, who were all healthy young adults, increased over a relatively short period of time, say researchers.
They also found that participants who experienced greater fitness gains also experienced greater increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the growth, function and survival of brain cells.
“Improvements in this type of memory from exercise might help to explain the previously established link between aerobic exercise and better academic performance,” says Jennifer Heisz, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster and lead author of the study.
“At the other end of our lifespan, as we reach our senior years, we might expect to see even greater benefits in individuals with memory impairment brought on by conditions such as dementia,” she says.
For the study, 95 participants completed six weeks of exercise training, combined exercise and cognitive training or no training (the control group which did neither and remained sedentary). Both the exercise and combined training groups improved performance on a high-interference memory task, while the control group did not.
Researchers measured changes in aerobic fitness, memory and neurotrophic factor, before and after the study protocol.
The results reveal a potential mechanism for how exercise and cognitive training may be changing the brain to support cognition, suggesting that the two work together through complementary pathways of the brain to improve high-interference memory.
Researchers have begun to examine older adults to determine if they will experience the same positive results with the combination of exercise and cognitive training.
“One hypothesis is that we will see greater benefits for older adults given that this type of memory declines with age,” says Heisz. “However, the availability of neurotrophic factors also declines with age and this may mean that we do not get the synergistic effects.”
About this neuroscience research article
Source:McMaster University Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com. Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to JD Howell, McMaster University. Original Research: Abstract for “The Effects of Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training on Memory and Neurotrophic Factors” by Jennifer J. Heisz, Ilana B. Clark, Katija Bonin, Emily M. Paolucci, Bernadeta Michalski, Suzanna Becker and Margaret Fahnestock in Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. Published online September 29 2017 doi:10.1162/jocn_a_01164
Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article
[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]McMaster University “High Intensity Exercise Boosts Memory.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 22 November 2017. <https://neurosciencenews.com/memory-high-intensity-exercise-8006/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]McMaster University (2017, November 22). High Intensity Exercise Boosts Memory. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved November 22, 2017 from https://neurosciencenews.com/memory-high-intensity-exercise-8006/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]McMaster University “High Intensity Exercise Boosts Memory.” https://neurosciencenews.com/memory-high-intensity-exercise-8006/ (accessed November 22, 2017).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]
The Effects of Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training on Memory and Neurotrophic Factors
This study examined the combined effect of physical exercise and cognitive training on memory and neurotrophic factors in healthy, young adults. Ninety-five participants completed 6 weeks of exercise training, combined exercise and cognitive training, or no training (control). Both the exercise and combined training groups improved performance on a high-interference memory task, whereas the control group did not. In contrast, neither training group improved on general recognition performance, suggesting that exercise training selectively increases high-interference memory that may be linked to hippocampal function. Individuals who experienced greater fitness improvements from the exercise training (i.e., high responders to exercise) also had greater increases in the serum neurotrophic factors brain-derived neurotrophic factor and insulin-like growth factor-1. These high responders to exercise also had better high-interference memory performance as a result of the combined exercise and cognitive training compared with exercise alone, suggesting that potential synergistic effects might depend on the availability of neurotrophic factors. These findings are especially important, as memory benefits accrued from a relatively short intervention in high-functioning young adults.
“The Effects of Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training on Memory and Neurotrophic Factors” by Jennifer J. Heisz, Ilana B. Clark, Katija Bonin, Emily M. Paolucci, Bernadeta Michalski, Suzanna Becker and Margaret Fahnestock in Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. Published online September 29 2017 doi:10.1162/jocn_a_01164
Mazoezi ya wiki sita ya nguvu ya juu yanaweza kuongeza kumbukumbu ya kuingiliana, ripoti mpya ya utafiti Chanzo: Chuo Kikuu cha McMaster. Faida za afya za mazoezi ya nguvu zinajulikana sana, lakini utafiti mpya kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha McMaster unaonyesha faida nyingine kubwa: kumbukumbu bora. Matokeo yanaweza kuwa na athari kwa idadi ya watu wenye kuzeeka ambao wanashindana na tatizo linalokua la magonjwa mabaya kama vile dementia na Alzheimer. "Wanasayansi wamegundua kwamba wiki sita za mazoezi makali, vipindi vifupi vya mazoezi ya muda mfupi kwa muda wa dakika 20, zilionyesha ""uboreshaji mkubwa katika kile kinachojulikana kama kumbukumbu ya kuingiliana sana, ambayo, kwa mfano, inaruhusu kutofautisha gari letu na nyingine ya mtindo na mtindo sawa.""" Utafiti huo umechapishwa katika jarida la Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. Utafiti huo unaonekana kuwa muhimu kwa sababu uwezo wa kukumbuka wa washiriki wa utafiti huo, ambao wote walikuwa vijana wenye afya, uliongezeka kwa muda mfupi. Watafiti pia waligundua kuwa washiriki ambao walipata faida kubwa ya mazoezi ya mwili pia walipata ongezeko kubwa la sababu ya neurotrophic inayotokana na ubongo (BDNF), protini inayosaidia ukuaji, kazi na kuishi kwa seli za ubongo. "Maboresho katika aina hii ya kumbukumbu kutoka kwa mazoezi yanaweza kusaidia kuelezea uhusiano uliothibitishwa hapo awali kati ya mazoezi ya aerobic na utendaji bora wa kitaaluma, "anasema Jennifer Heisz, profesa msaidizi katika Idara ya Kinesiolojia huko McMaster na mwandishi mkuu wa utafiti huo." "Katika mwisho mwingine wa maisha yetu, tunapofikia miaka yetu ya uzee, tunaweza kutarajia kuona faida kubwa zaidi kwa watu wenye kasoro ya kumbukumbu inayosababishwa na hali kama vile dementia", anasema. Katika utafiti huo, washiriki 95 walimaliza wiki sita za mazoezi, mazoezi ya pamoja na mafunzo ya utambuzi au hakuna mafunzo (kikundi cha kudhibiti ambacho hakikufanya yoyote na kilibaki kimya). Kwa upande mwingine, kikundi cha mazoezi na kikundi cha mafunzo pamoja kiliboresha utendaji katika kazi ya kumbukumbu ya kuingiliana, wakati kikundi cha kudhibiti hakikuboresha. Watafiti walipima mabadiliko katika fitness ya aerobic, kumbukumbu na sababu ya neurotrophic, kabla na baada ya itifaki ya utafiti. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yanafunua utaratibu wa uwezekano wa jinsi mazoezi na mafunzo ya utambuzi yanaweza kubadilisha ubongo kusaidia utambuzi, ikidokeza kwamba wote wawili hufanya kazi pamoja kupitia njia za ziada za ubongo ili kuboresha kumbukumbu ya high-interference. Watafiti wameanza kuchunguza watu wazima wazee ili kuamua kama watapata matokeo sawa mazuri na mchanganyiko wa mazoezi na mafunzo ya utambuzi. "Hadithi moja ni kwamba tutaona faida kubwa kwa watu wazima wazee kwa kuzingatia kwamba aina hii ya kumbukumbu hupungua na umri", anasema Heisz. "Kwa hivyo, upatikanaji wa sababu za neurotrophic pia hupungua na umri na hii inaweza kumaanisha kwamba hatupati athari za ushirikiano. ""Kuhusu makala hii ya utafiti wa sayansi ya neva Chanzo: Chuo Kikuu cha McMaster Mchapishaji: Imeandaliwa na NeuroscienceNews.com." Picha: NeuroscienceNews.com picha ni sifa kwa JD Howell, Chuo Kikuu cha McMaster. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""The Effects of Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training on Memory and Neurotrophic Factors"" iliyoandikwa na Jennifer J. Heisig, Ilana B. Clark, Katya Bonin, Emily M. Paolucci, Bernadette Michalski, Suzanne Becker, na Margaret Fahnestock, ""Jarida la Neuroscience ya Kugundua.""" "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti wa Utafiti.""" Neuroscience News, 22 Novemba 2017 "Hii ni ""Memory-High-Intensity Exercise"" (MIMH-8006)." [Cbtab] [cbtab title=<unk>APA<unk>] Chuo Kikuu cha McMaster (2017, Novemba 22). Mazoezi ya nguvu huongeza kumbukumbu. Habari za Sayansi ya neva. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Memory-High-Intensity Exercise-800"" ya Chuo Kikuu cha McMaster, ""Memory-High-Intensity Exercise-800"" ni mazoezi ya nguvu ya juu ambayo huongeza kumbukumbu." Utafiti huu ulichunguza athari ya mazoezi ya mwili na mafunzo ya utambuzi juu ya kumbukumbu na sababu za neurotrophic, na matokeo ya mazoezi ya mwili na mafunzo ya utambuzi juu ya kumbukumbu na sababu za neurotrophic katika watu wazima wenye afya. Washiriki 95 walimaliza wiki 6 za mazoezi ya mazoezi, mazoezi ya pamoja na mafunzo ya utambuzi, au hakuna mafunzo (udhibiti). Kikundi cha mazoezi na kikundi cha mafunzo pamoja kiliboresha utendaji kwenye kazi ya kumbukumbu ya kuingiliana sana, wakati kikundi cha kudhibiti hakikufanya hivyo. Kwa upande mwingine, hakuna kundi la mafunzo lililoboresha utendaji wa utambuzi wa jumla, ikidokeza kwamba mafunzo ya mazoezi huongeza kumbukumbu ya kuingiliana kwa njia ya kuchagua ambayo inaweza kuhusishwa na kazi ya hippocampal. Watu ambao walipata maendeleo makubwa ya mazoezi ya mwili (yaani, waliojibu kwa mazoezi) pia walikuwa na ongezeko kubwa katika serum neurotrophic factors (neurotrophic factor) inayotokana na ubongo na insulin- kama ukuaji factor-1. "Watu hao waliojibu vizuri kwa mazoezi pia walikuwa na utendaji bora wa kumbukumbu ya kuingiliana kwa sababu ya mazoezi ya pamoja na mafunzo ya utambuzi ikilinganishwa na mazoezi peke yake, ikidokeza kuwa athari za uwezekano wa ushirikiano zinaweza kutegemea upatikanaji wa ""vitu vya neurotrophic.""" Matokeo haya ni muhimu hasa, kama faida ya kumbukumbu ilipata kutoka kwa uingiliaji mfupi katika watu wazima vijana wenye utendaji wa juu. "The Effects of Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training on Memory and Neurotrophic Factors"" na Jennifer J. Heis, Ilana B. Clark, Katja Bonin, Emily M. Paolucci, Bernadette Michalski, Suzanna Becker na Margaret Fahnestock katika jarida la ""Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.""" Imechapishwa kwenye mtandao Septemba 29, 2017 (Doi.1162)