According to groundbreaking research, this tired, foggy feeling hits older people more severely than young people, unless they exercise regularly, suggesting that physical activity may be the brain’s best defense against age-related psychological fatigue.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham and the Spanish SuperUniversity have found that retired adults who maintain routine exercise have great performance in cognitive and physical testing, especially when mentally tired.
The study, published this week in the Journal of Aging and Physical Exercise, provides compelling evidence that staying physically active may be one of the most effective ways to stay mentally resilient as you age.
Chris Ring of the University of Birmingham said: “This study shows the importance of adults to their physical exercise as they age, and, in general, avoids the most serious impact of mental fatigue on cognitive and physical performance.”
The research team conducted two interconnected studies to examine how age and exercise habits affect our ability to perform when we are mentally tired. In the first experiment, they compared sedentary men aged 65-79 with younger 52-64 years old and found that older groups performed significantly worse on the tests—scaling when these disorders were enlarged when mental fatigue.
But the second study reveals something more promising. When the researchers compared physically active adults aged 66-72 with sedentary peers of the same age, the results showed significant advantages for those who exercised regularly. Active older adults show better performance, whether they are mentally resting or fatigued.
Participants’ use of a demanding 20-minute cognitive task caused mental fatigue, called the Time Load Dual Back (TLDB) task, designed to be taxed. Before and after this mentally exhausted experience, participants completed various tests that measured physical abilities (including a six-minute walk test, a 30-second sitting test and a 30-second ARM curl) and cognitive function (focusing on response suppression and vigilance).
The findings challenge the notion that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging, suggesting that lifestyle choices play a crucial role in determining that our brains work as we age.
“This study from our ongoing international partnerships confirms that regular physical exercise has many benefits, with increased cognitive ability, increased athletic ability and greater mental fatigue resilience, and physical health,” explains Professor Ring.
For many older adults, this study provides practical implications. Mental fatigue is a common daily experience – whether it’s focusing on bills, trying to follow complex instructions, or just dealing with the feeling of modern life overload. The study shows that regular exercise may help older people rebound from these mental tax situations.
“Especially for older people, regular exercise is a simple but effective means to avoid age effects in many areas, including avoiding the negative effects of mental fatigue after a special tax,” Professor Ring added.
These findings are consistent with a growing body of research that links physical activity to brain health. Previous research has shown a link between exercise and a reduced risk of dementia, improved memory and better overall cognitive function. This new study adds another dimension by specifically examining how exercise affects our ability to perform under mental fatigue conditions.
For those who want to apply these findings to their lives, the research team offers three practical suggestions. Professor Huan advises: “First of all, people can improve their regular physical exercise.”
He continued: “Secondly, people can use a combination of cognitive and physical tasks to warm up to better prepare for their upcoming physical performance, especially when mentally tired.”
Finally, Professor Ring suggests a cutting-edge approach called Brain Endurance Training (BET): “People can use a combination of cognitive and motor tasks, called Brain Endurance Training, or BET, to improve their resilience to their psychological fatigue and enhance their physical performance.”
Although the study focuses on older people, the researchers noted that the benefits of exercise for mental fatigue resilience may extend to people of all ages. However, these findings suggest that these advantages become increasingly important as we age when the cognitive effects of mental fatigue usually become more obvious.
The researchers concluded that “the harmful effects of mental fatigue on cognitive and physical performance are weakened by habitual physical exercise due to aging.” These results are of great significance to how we deal with aging and cognitive health.
As the global population continues to change, finding effective strategies to maintain cognitive function is becoming increasingly urgent. This study shows that things as simple as routine physical exercise may significantly improve the quality of life for older people by helping them stay mentally keen, even during demanding cognitive tasks.
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