Brain aging slowdown method unexpectedly revealed

Strength training can influence brain aging processes and maintain mental functions in older adults, international researchers have found.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to aif.ru, the results of a scientific study published in the journal GeroScience demonstrated that regular resistance exercises help slow down biological brain aging and preserve cognitive abilities.

Previously, specialists had already confirmed the benefits of physical activity for memory and reducing the risk of dementia, but the main focus was on aerobic training. The impact of strength training remained poorly studied — and it was precisely this gap that the authors of the new study set out to fill.

To assess the effect, scientists used so-called "brain clocks" — special algorithms that analyze MRI data and determine the biological age of the brain. If this indicator turns out to be lower than the chronological age, it indicates a more favorable aging trajectory.

One of the study's authors, Agustín Ibáñez, explained that the main objective was to test the hypothesis: can strength training change the very trajectory of brain aging.

The model was first tested on a sample of more than 2,400 healthy individuals and then applied to a group of 309 volunteers aged 62 to 70. Participants were divided into three categories: intensive training three times a week, moderate physical activity (including home exercises), and complete absence of exercise.

After one year, people who regularly performed exercises showed strengthened connections between brain regions responsible for attention and planning. Moreover, the biological age of their brains was lower by an average of 1.4–2.3 years, and this effect persisted even after two years. Notably, the changes were comprehensive in nature and affected the entire brain rather than individual areas.

Experts note that the positive impact was observed even with moderate exercise, while more intensive training did not always yield significantly better results. Among participants in the control group who did not exercise, no such changes were detected.

According to the researchers, this is not about literal "rejuvenation" but rather a healthier aging trajectory. At the same time, the authors emphasize that the study was conducted among healthy older adults, so its conclusions may not be applicable to all population groups.

Nevertheless, scientists are convinced that strength training can become an effective tool for preventing age-related cognitive decline and maintaining brain health.