Mid-Life Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity Quota Associated With Brain Power - Neuroscience News

The amount of time spent in moderate and vigorous physical activity every day is linked to mid-life brain power, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Previously published studies link daily moderate and vigorous physical activity, or MVPA for short, to health, but few have included time spent asleep, which makes up the largest component of any 24 hour period, say the researchers.

They drew on participants in the 1970 British Cohort Study, comprising people born across England, Scotland, and Wales in 1970 whose health was tracked throughout childhood and adulthood.

Time spent in MVPA relative to other types of behaviour was positively associated with cognitive performance after adjusting for educational attainment and workplace physical activity.

Time spent in MVPA relative to other types of behaviour was positively associated with cognitive performance after adjusting for educational attainment and workplace physical activity.

Nevertheless, they conclude: “This robust method corroborates a critical role for MVPA in supporting cognition, and efforts should be made to bolster this component of daily movement.”