Short Bursts of Intense Exercise for 6 Months Can Reduce Cognitive Decline: Research

High-intensity interval exercise for just six months could be enough to improve cognitive function in older adults for up to five years, Australian scientists have found. Researchers at the University of Queensland’s Brain Institute recruited a large group of healthy adults aged 65 to 85 for a six-month exercise program. The volunteers undertook cognition testing as part of the study, along with high-resolution brain scans. Five years later, researchers followed up with these older volunteers and found they had better cognition, even if they ceased exercising at the conclusion of the study. Emeritus Professor Bartlett said six months of high-intensity interval training is enough to “flick the switch.”...