Experts say there's no real evidence that regular exercise can stave off ... trends now
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It may be good for your body.
But there is little evidence regular exercise helps stave off Alzheimer's, according to scientists.
In the last few decades, research has indicated exercise is beneficial for the brain and cognitive performance.
This has influenced public health policies, with some institutions recommending regular physical activity to help maintain healthy memory, perception, thinking and reasoning skills.
But an umbrella review of hundreds of studies suggests there is 'little evidence' for a positive relationship between regular physical exercise and improved cognition in healthy people.
In the last few decades, research has indicated that exercise is beneficial for the brain and cognitive performance
Researchers from the University of Granada focused on 109 studies that involved more than 11,000 healthy participants.
Analysis showed that – while it's not suggested exercise is bad for your brain – 'robust causal evidence' is lacking to support the claim it benefits brain health.
They said initial small, positive effects of physical exercise on cognition disappeared after accounting for potential moderators.
These moderators could be, for example, different exercise types included in the studies, a wide age range or measuring different outcomes.
Writing in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, they said the benefits of exercise – especially with regards to physical health – are still enough to justify policies that promote its regular application in people's everyday lives.
'Further, engaging in
