Need one more excuse to bust out those running shoes? Well, this one might catch your attention. Time.com reveals that engaging in cardio activities in your 20s will boost one’s memory recall when they reach middle age. According to the study published in the medical journal, Neurology, researchers observed and studied the link between mental and physical activities of 2,747 participants, all within the age 25.
The study required the participants to run on the treadmill until they were breathless, and on the average, each of them ran a good 10 minutes.
After 20 years, the participants were instructed to run on the treadmill again. While their average time fell short to 2.9 minutes, their cognitive exam results produced provoking results: Individuals who ran extra minutes than the average during their first try scored better than those who ran less. Also, some of them who didn’t lose much power on the treadmill on the second try were sharper.
Although the difference is little, researchers believed that a person’s thinking skills is linked to his psychomotor speed—the memory-related tests were relevant identifiers for dementia, a disease that dismantles one’s memory. They even noted that being physically active when you’re younger lowers your dementia risk by 18%.
So go ahead and sign yourself up a gym membership, download the latest fitness app, or head out the door and have good jog.
(Photo from Athleta by Mariela Wintersteen via Pinterest)
