Benefits of regular aerobic exercise for executive functioning in healthy populations

Abstract

Research suggests that regular aerobic exercise has the potential to improve executive functioning, even in healthy populations. The purpose of this review is to elucidate which components of executive functioning benefit from such exercise in healthy populations. In light of the developmental time course of executive functions, we consider separately children, young adults, and older adults. Data to date from studies of aging provide strong evidence of exercise-linked benefits related to task switching, selective attention, inhibition of prepotent responses, and working memory capacity; furthermore, cross-sectional fitness data suggest that working memory updating could potentially benefit as well. In young adults, working memory updating is the main executive function shown to benefit from regular exercise, but cross-sectional data further suggest that task-switching and posterror performance may also benefit. In children, working memory capacity has been shown to benefit, and cross-sectional data suggest potential benefits for selective attention and inhibitory control. Although more research investigating exercise-related benefits for specific components of executive functioning is clearly needed in young adults and children, when considered across the age groups, ample evidence indicates that regular engagement in aerobic exercise can provide a simple means for healthy people to optimize a range of executive functions.

Role of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Cognition in Physiology and Disease: Pharmacological Targets and Biomarkers

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Effects of different delayed exercise regimens on cognitive performance in fimbria-fornix transected rats

“…Studies of healthy humans have found positive effects of exercise on cognitive measures in both children, younger adults, and elderly populations (see e.g. Guiney and Machado 2013, Hopkins et al 2012, Khan and Hillman 2014. Furthermore, findings from human studies suggest a beneficial effect of physical exercise regarding prevention of age-related cognitive impairment and potentially even development of Alzheimer's disease (Erickson et al 2011, Laurin et al 2001, Lindsay et al 2002.…”

The FitTrack Index as fitness indicator: A pilot study

“…Physical activity benefits many parts of the body and can reduce many of the risk factors for non-communicable diseases (Guiney & Machado, 2013;Mezzani et al, 2013). The need exists for a fast, noninvasive and accessible tool that recreational athletes could use to evaluate and categorise health-related fitness, and track their progress.…”