Exercise is a Universal Cognitive Enhancer: Bridging Gaps in Lifespan Brain Health

A landmark umbrella review—with critical implications for ADHD, ageing, and some (global) brain health strategies.

the urgency of cognitive health

Cognitive decline as well as neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), pose escalating global health and economic burdens. With dementia cases alone are projected to double or triple by 2050, identifying accessible, scalable strategies to preserve cognitive function has become a public health imperative. While pharmacological interventions dominate research, their efficacy remains pretty limited and very difficult to scale.

Photo by Ecliptic Graphic on Unsplash

We need viable, scalable, alternatives. Enter exercise: a low-cost, universally available intervention with mounting evidence of neuroprotective effects.

Topics

what was known—and what was missing

the study: scope and innovation

key findings (cognitive benefits are universal—and robust; adhd: an (apparent) exercise breakthrough; low-to-moderate intensity outperforms high intensity; exergaming and short-term interventions excel)

bridging the gaps in prior research

implications for policy and practice

conclusion: evidence to action

and a reading list

👋 Here in the BrainPizza Newsletter, I take a fresh look at life through an informed, empirical, neuroscience and psychology lens. I do regular in-depth treatments of topics such as our very human metabolism, AI hype, brain implants, memory, hunger, NIMBYism, thinking, how to write books, and much more, as well as occasional listicles, readings, book reviews, and commentaries. Browse the archives here; if you’d like to get these regular in-depth emails in your inbox, you can subscribe here.

my two most recent books:

• Talking Heads: The New Science of How Conversation Shapes Our Worlds

• In Praise of Walking: The new science of how we walk and why it’s good for us

what was known—and what was missing