Scientists Reveal Everyday Activity Can Improve Your Memory
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Exercise has been associated with many health benefits, including improving memory and cognition.
New research suggests that everyday activities, like walking your dog and playing with your kids, can have an immediate benefit for brain health.
Try to break up sedentary activity with little bursts of everyday movement to reap the benefits.
We know that regular physical activity has tremendous health benefits, from boosting brain health to reducing the risk of common cancers and adding years to your life. But what about everyday activities like walking your dog, playing with your kids and tidying up around the house? A new study found that these lower-intensity daily activities may have immediate benefits for brain health.
What the study revealed
The study, published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine, looked at data collected from 204 adults between the ages of 40 to 60. The researchers out of Penn State had participants go about their daily lives, and check in with them six times per day for a week via their smartphone. During each check-in, participants reported their activity over the past few hours and also played a few virtual "brain games" to measure their cognitive functioning.
The researchers found that people who participated in everyday movement showed improvements in cognitive processing speed equivalent to being four years younger. What's more, this immediate brain health benefit was observed regardless of whether the activities were high intensity (think running or jogging) or lower intensity (like walking or household chores).
But this isn't the first time that physical activity and cognitive health have been linked. Previous research has looked at this with a long-term relationship over months and years, but the researchers for this recent study were interested in understanding if there was a potentially more immediate impact on brain health. Separate research has suggested that outdoor activity in particular may provide an even bigger boost to memory and cognitive function.
The findings are also a bit reminiscent of common characteristics of centenarians that live in the Blue Zones, areas in the world with longer life expectancies and lower rates of chronic disease. Blue Zones researchers have determined that centenarians (people who are 100 years or older) don't necessarily run marathons or frequent the heavy lifting section of the gym, but rather move naturally and are constantly active throughout the day by tending to their gardens, doing basic housework, cooking and walking. In fact, research on Sardinian men specifically found that residing in mountainous areas, walking longer distances to work, and shepherding are linked to their longevity.
The bottom line
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but even something as simple as a brief walk with your dog or tidying up the house can have an immediate benefit on brain health. Focus on ways that you can stay more active during the day and break up sedentary activity with little bursts of everyday movement, be it stretching, walking or gardening. Prioritizing outdoor activities can provide an even greater cognitive benefit. Always remember that your body was designed to move – any physical activity is better than none, and every little bit counts.
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