What is “active aging” and how it can protect brain health
A study reveals that physical exercise and active social life in adults over 65 years of age are associated with a smaller decrease in the thickness of the entorhinal cortex, a brain region crucial for memory. These findings support the idea that maintaining an active lifestyle can prevent neurodegeneration in old age and highlight the importance of physical and social activity for brain health.
A recent study led by the University Research Priority Program on the Dynamics of Healthy Aging and the Center for Healthy Longevity at the University of Zurich (UZH) has shed light on the connection between physical exercise, social activity, and brain health in adults.
The research, supervised by Professor Emeritus Lutz Jäncke and co-director Susan Mérillat, was based on data collected during an extensive longitudinal study of brain development and behavior in old age, launched 12 years ago.
The results reveal that people who actively participated in physical and social activities at the beginning of the study experienced a significantly smaller decrease in the thickness of the entorhinal cortex, a brain region vital for learning and memory. This area of the brain is known to be affected in the early stages of the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Neuropsychologist Jäncke highlighted the importance of these findings: “Our results indicate that the thickness of the entorhinal cortex decreased less in those who were more physically and socially active during the seven-year period of the study.”
Furthermore, a close relationship was observed between the thickness of this brain region and memory performance, suggesting that these activities could have a preventive impact on neurodegeneration associated with aging.
Exercise is key to anti-aging
The study also supports the notion that the brain can be trained throughout life, similar to a muscle, to counteract age-related decline. Isabel Hotz, one of the lead authors, highlighted the importance of maintaining a “cognitive reserve,” noting that greater memory performance at the beginning of the study was associated with a smaller decline over the course of the study.
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In summary, the conclusion of the study highlights the relevance of physical activity and an active social life in preserving brain health in old age. Jäncke said: “Physical exercise and an active social life with friends and family are important for brain health and can prevent neurodegeneration in old age.” These results support the idea that the brain can benefit from an active life in all its dimensions.
In Switzerland, it seems that this philosophy of life is already ingrained in the older population. According to the Swiss Health Survey conducted by the Federal Statistical Office in 2022, approximately 75% of people over 65 years of age meet the recommended amount of physical exercise in their daily life.
These discoveries not only offer valuable information for brain health in later life, but also reinforce the importance of promoting active and socially enriching lifestyles for all ages. The message is clear: staying active physically, mentally, and socially may be the key to preserving mental acuity as we age.
