Light activity and even housework can keep our brain young, according to a new study

With regard to exercise, it seems that every little bit counts. A new study released Friday adds to the growing evidence that keeping our body active keeps our brains in shape.

The research, which was revealed in the newspaper Jama Network Open, found middle-aged and older Americans, who regularly had only one hour of light exercise during the week, had a bigger brain average than those who were not going to work much.

Light activity counts

Even if it's just a minute or two at a time – whether you're walking outside or vacuuming in the house – light activity and short exercises are always beneficial for brain health, the study found Framingham Heart. This goes against the previously held belief that it takes a certain amount to see the benefits.

"The results of our study do not neglect moderate or vigorous physical activity as an important factor for healthy aging," said Dr. Nicole Spartano, badistant professor of medical research at the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Boston. "We are simply adding to science, suggesting that light-intensity physical activity could also be important, especially for the brain."

Behind the desk

The international research team studied three days of activity tracking data from more than 2,000 middle-aged adults from America and examined their brain scans.

The volume of the brain has been badociated with aging and about 0.2% of them are lost every year after the age of 60. Narrowing of brain tissue is also linked to dementia, Spartano added.

In this study, the team found that for each additional hour of light physical activity a day, the brain volume was 0.22% higher. This translates into just under a year of cerebral aging. Those who walked at least 10,000 steps had a brain volume 0.35% higher than those who took less than 5,000.

The team stated that a more in-depth badysis should be conducted on individuals engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and that the study found limitations, as it was on predominantly white participants. reflects a given period. The authors added that sedentary time spent was not necessarily "bad" for the brain, especially if a person is engaged in a task that requires a lot of mental power.

Spartano said that people should not take this as an excuse to ignore physical activity. "Higher levels of fitness are related to longevity and a better quality of life for seniors, not to mention their low rate of dementia."