Aussie researchers find link between unfit children and midlife mental decline
SYDNEY, June 17– Australian researchers, using data collected across more than three decades, have found that physically fit children are more likely to remain mentally robust during their later years. Associate Professor Michele Callisaya from the National Center for Healthy Ageing at Monash University told Xinhua on Friday that “this study essentially…
SYDNEY, June 17 (Xinhua) — Australian researchers, using data collected across more than three decades, have found that physically fit children are more likely to remain mentally robust during their later years.
The findings, believed to be the first of their kind in the world, were published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport and revealed on Friday.
Associate Professor Michele Callisaya from the National Center for Healthy Ageing (NCHA) at Monash University told Xinhua on Friday that “this study essentially appears to show that being fit as a kid can be beneficial for brain health later in life.”
The researchers, including scientists from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research (MIMR) at the University of Tasmania, drew their conclusions from data accumulated from 1985 to 2019 of 1244 people who were aged between seven and 15 at the outset.
The young participants were initially assessed for their muscular fitness and waist-to-hip measurements and then were followed up between the years 2004-2006, 2009-2011 and finally 2014-2019, when they were tested for their cognitive functioning with a series of computerized tests.
The researchers found that the fittest children had higher midlife scores in cognitive tests that challenged their memories, and ability to think quickly and pay attention.
Callisaya said the study appeared to indicate that “early activity levels, fitness and metabolic health may protect against dementia in our older years.”
The researchers say that children’s physical activity could have a direct benefit on their growing brains due to increasing the blood flow and helping to form new neurons.
Furthermore, lack of exercise in childhood can lead to obesity which, in turn, is often associated with conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes which can all impact brain health.
“Developing strategies that improve low fitness and decrease obesity levels in childhood are important because it could contribute to improvements in cognitive performance in midlife,” Callisaya said.
“Importantly the study indicates that protective strategies against future cognitive decline may need to start as far back as early childhood, so the brain can develop sufficient reserve against developing conditions such as dementia in older life.” Enditem