Exercise could stretch your memory
[Wednesday, 18 November 2009]

The University of Sydney is looking for people to test the theory that fitness training can stretch your memory.

Researchers at the University's Faculty of Health Sciences are looking for people aged over 55 who may be just beginning to notice changes in their memory. They want to test the theory that physical or mentalexercise can help repair memory loss and prevent dementia.

'There is evidence suggesting both physical and mental exercise slows the rate of cognitive decline and prevents dementia, but most of the testing to date has been on people who have no memory impairment,' says Professor Maria Fiatarone Singh, lead researcher in the NHMRC-funded Study of Mental and Regular Training (SMART), and staunch proponent of exercise for older adults.

'We're trying to work out if people who have suffered some memory loss can still keep further memory loss at bay and stave off dementia with exercise,' she says.

'If you've found yourself forgetting names or having to write more lists lately there's a chance you could benefit from SMART,' says Professor Fiatarone Singh, who has been studying the benefits of exercise for older adults for more than 20 years.

SMART participants are required to visit the Faculty of Health Sciences in Lidcombe twice a week for six months. Each session at the Faculty will involve 45 minutes of supervised whole body exercise and another 45 minutes of mental exercises performed on computers.

At the end of the six month trial period MRI scans of volunteers' brains, as well as tests of memory, thinking, and physical fitness, assess the impact of the exercises on the brain, body and overall health. These tests are repeated one year later, to see the long-lasting benefits of the training.

Professor Fiatarone Singh says most older adults reap huge benefits from muscle strengthening and aerobic exercise. 'Aside from improving cardiovascular health and psychological well being, regular exercise can keep chronic diseases at bay.

'We're hoping SMART will prove that mental and physical exercise can keep your brain shipshape too.'

Those wishing to participate in SMART should contact Nidhi Jain at The University of Sydney on 02 9351 9138.