Strength Training Improves Memory: Scientists Identify the Exact Time.

According to ТСН: Researchers have discovered a simple and accessible way to improve memory in adults that doesn't require special medications. It involves strength training, but it's important to consider the timing of these workouts.

The Impact of Strength Training on the Brain

Scientists from Purdue University in Indiana report that, although weights were used in their experiment, similar effects on the brain can be achieved with other resistance exercises, such as squats or leg curls, performed with body weight or resistance bands.

They found that high-resistance training has a positive effect on the brain's executive functions. It not only increases the speed of information processing and the quality of working memory but also significantly optimizes neuroelectric function.

Study Participants

The experiment involved 121 adults aged 18 to 50, divided into two groups. Before the study began, researchers conducted a lifestyle survey and assessed the participants' cardiovascular health. Two days later, participants provided blood samples and underwent an electroencephalography (EEG) procedure to record the electrical activity of their brains.

Training Results

One group performed strength exercises at moderate intensity for 42 minutes, including bench presses, pulls, bicep curls, and other exercises. The second group only watched videos of these exercises.

Analysis showed that participants who trained had a noticeably faster response in working memory compared to the group that watched the videos.

In a paper published in the journal 'Psychophysiology', scientists noted that they cannot precisely explain why strength training improves working memory. However, they hypothesized that increased levels of lactate in the blood and blood pressure after training may contribute to improved executive functions and consequently cognitive abilities.

The Importance of Physical Activity

Researchers emphasized that the study results provide strong justification for including resistance training in programs aimed at improving executive functions. Previous scientific works have also shown that physical activity in middle age is important for maintaining cognitive abilities and slowing the development of dementia.

Additionally, Spanish scientists analyzed data from over 300 adults and found that engaging in physical activity for about two and a half hours a week reduces the risk of accumulating toxic amyloid protein, which leads to Alzheimer's disease.

It was also established that lifting heavy objects three times a week reduces biological age by approximately eight years.

The World Health Organization recommends that adults engage in physical activities for at least 150 minutes a week at a moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise.

The results of this study are significant for understanding the role of physical exercise in improving cognitive functions, especially in adults. Incorporating strength training into daily life can become an effective way not only to maintain physical fitness but also to preserve mental activity over the years.