Research has found that short bursts of high-intensity exercise can significantly improve memory. The study focused on healthy young adults who were able to enhance their memory performance in a relatively short period of time. These individuals engaged in 20-minute exercise sessions, during which they performed brief intervals of intense exercise. The study also revealed that those who experienced the greatest fitness gains saw an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports brain cell function, growth, and survival. Dr. Jennifer Heisz, the study's first author, suggested that the improvements in memory resulting from exercise could potentially explain the established connection between aerobic exercise and improved academic performance. Additionally, she speculated that older adults with memory impairment, such as dementia, may experience even greater benefits from exercise. The study compared exercise training with a control group consisting of 95 participants and found that high-intensity exercise was particularly beneficial for high-interference memory. After exercise, individuals found it easier to recall memories in situations where similar memories could interfere with retrieval. Dr. Heisz mentioned that they are currently investigating whether these findings hold true for older adults, as this type of memory tends to decline with age. However, she noted that the availability of neurotrophic factors also decreases with age, which may affect the synergistic effects of exercise on memory. The study was published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
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