Key result
Acute 30-minute aerobic exercise improved cognitive and executive function compared to a reading control, with greater benefits observed in older adults with higher baseline fitness levels.
Why the study?
Does 30 min of acute aerobic exercise improve cognitive function in healthy older adults?
RCT (n=46)
counterbalanced order
Does 30 min of acute aerobic exercise improve cognitive function in healthy older adults?
Acute aerobic exercise improves cognitive and executive function in healthy older adults, with the greatest benefits seen in those with higher baseline fitness.
May support acute cognitive gains in fitter older adults; leaves open confirmation via randomized trials.
This study investigated the effects of acute exercise on cognitive function and the modulatory role of fitness in the relationship between exercise and cognition. Forty-six healthy older adults, categorized into higher or lower fitness groups, completed the Stroop test after both 30 min of aerobic exercise and a reading control with a counterbalanced order. Our findings demonstrated that acute exercise leads to general improvements in 2 types of cognitive functions and to specific improvements in executive function. Additionally, older adults with initially higher fitness levels experienced greater beneficial effects from acute exercise.
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Chu et al. (2015) conducted an RCT in healthy (n=46). Acute aerobic exercise vs. reading control was evaluated on cognitive function (Stroop test). Acute 30-minute aerobic exercise improved cognitive and executive function compared to a reading control, with greater benefits observed in older adults with higher baseline fitness levels.
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