How to maintain a good memory is within the goals of many ordinary people and it is also one of the goals of many scientists.
What things can older people do to maintain a good memory? Some studies have shown that training your memory with mental exercises and games can be a good strategy. Other studies have addressed the question of whether and which physical exercise can have beneficial effects on memory. This is the case of a recent article published by Emrah Duzel, from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Germany, together with other collaborators. In their work they carry out a review of this question, placing special emphasis on the brain changes that take place when physical exercise is practiced and also the cognitive changes that occur.
The authors comment that there are still few studies that relate physical exercise in older people with changes in the brain. The few studies that exist seem to have found, according to them, changes in the hippocampus (brain structure important in memory) and also in blood markers of plasticity . As they describe, there are studies that have found that practicing a year of light to moderate physical exercise could prevent atrophy of the hippocampus. However, there is still much to find out about the mechanisms that promote these changes in relation to physical exercise.
At a cognitive level, it seems that the results do not always point in the same direction and not all studies find improvement in memory tests after practicing physical exercise. Apparently, as the authors explain, this discrepancy could be due to the great variability existing between individuals. In one of the experiments they reviewed, changes in hippocampal fitness and volumes were found to correlate with performance on a visuospatial working memory task.
In this article, recently published in Brain (2016), they raise a final and relevant question. Can we do something to increase the effect of physical exercise on cognitive performance in older people? As they explain, one option would be to combine physical exercise with cognitive stimulation , as some studies suggest that hippocampal decline can be prevented. Other possibilities would be nutritional and pharmacological treatments.
It is clear that experts recognize the great task ahead, but the scientific findings so far seem to encourage us to take care of our brains with combined strategies such as physical exercise, cognitive training and good nutrition. We lose nothing by trying.
Marisa Fernández, Senior Neuropsychologist, Unobrain
