Brain Endurance Training Improves Sedentary Older Adults’ Cognitive and Physical Performance When Fresh and Fatigued
BET’s effectiveness lies in its combination of cognitive and physical training. While traditional exercise can improve strength and stamina, it doesn’t prepare the brain to handle fatigue.
Aging naturally brings a decline in both physical and cognitive abilities, which can impact independence, quality of life, and increase the risk of accidents, particularly falls. As researchers continue searching for ways to address these issues, a study by Jesús Díaz-García, Tomás García-Calvo, and Christopher Ring stands out. Published in Psychology of Sport & Exercise, their research highlights the potential of Brain Endurance Training (BET) to improve cognitive and physical performance in older adults, even under fatigue. Here’s a closer look at the study and why BET could become a cornerstone of healthy aging.
What the Study Explores: Facing the Challenges of Aging
The research involved 24 women aged 65 to 78, divided into three groups: one practicing BET, one engaging in physical training, and a control group that did not undergo any training. The objective was to evaluate how BET—a combination of cognitive and physical exercises—could improve performance when participants were fresh and when they were fatigued.
Both the BET and exercise groups participated in the same physical routine—three sessions a week of resistance and endurance training. However, before each exercise session, the BET group also performed a 20-minute cognitive task to simulate real-life situations that demand both mental and physical stamina.
Cognitive performance was measured with the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT-B) and Stroop Task, both designed to test reaction speed and cognitive control. Physical performance was gauged through chair-stand, arm-curl, and walk tests. These tasks are practical reflections of daily activities—walking, sitting, standing, and lifting—which are essential for maintaining independence in older age.
BET Delivers Superior Results
The study results were impressive. BET consistently outperformed both the exercise-only group and the control group, especially when participants were fatigued. In real-world scenarios, where older adults face daily fatigue, BET showed strong potential to help maintain both cognitive and physical capabilities.
Cognitive Performance
BET Group: Cognitive performance improved by 3.7% when fresh and 7.8% when fatigued.
Exercise Group: Cognitive performance increased by 3.6% when fresh and 4.5% when fatigued.
Control Group: Cognitive performance decreased by 0.4% when fresh but saw a slight increase of 0.3% when fatigued.
These findings suggest that BET significantly strengthens mental resilience, helping older adults maintain cognitive function even when mentally taxed.
Physical Performance
BET Group: Physical performance increased by 16.5% when fresh and 29.9% when fatigued.
Exercise Group: Physical performance improved by 13.8% when fresh and 22.4% when fatigued.
Control Group: Physical performance increased by 10.8% when fresh and 7.1% when fatigued.
The improvement in physical performance under fatigued conditions was even more striking, with BET showing a 22.8% greater improvement compared to the control group. This demonstrates BET’s unique ability to enhance both endurance and strength when participants are mentally and physically drained.
Why BET Outshines Traditional Exercise
BET’s effectiveness lies in its combination of cognitive and physical training. While traditional exercise can improve strength and stamina, it doesn’t prepare the brain to handle fatigue. The cognitive tasks performed before the physical exercises in BET train the mind to maintain high levels of performance, even under stress.
This is critical for older adults, who often face both mental and physical fatigue in their daily activities. Being able to stay sharp mentally and strong physically, despite exhaustion, could significantly reduce their risk of accidents like falls, making BET a game-changer for this age group.
The Practical Benefits of BET for Aging Adults
The study’s findings are promising for older adults who wish to remain physically active and mentally sharp. As life expectancy continues to rise, maintaining cognitive and physical function will become even more important to preserving independence and quality of life. BET addresses both of these needs effectively.
Practical Applications:
Improved Cognitive Function: BET helps older adults keep their minds sharp, even when under mental stress. This could be especially beneficial for activities requiring quick decisions and attention, such as driving or managing multiple tasks.
Enhanced Physical Endurance: BET not only improves strength but also boosts endurance, allowing older adults to perform physical tasks like walking or lifting with greater ease and less fatigue. This leads to better mobility, fewer falls, and improved independence.
Resilience to Fatigue: One of BET’s standout benefits is its ability to improve performance when fatigued, whether from physical or cognitive demands. This resilience could reduce cognitive overload, a common cause of accidents in older adults.
Holistic Exercise Approach for Seniors: While traditional exercise programs for seniors focus mainly on strength and balance, BET incorporates a mental component to keep the brain as fit as the body. This holistic approach could help seniors maintain their cognitive skills alongside their physical abilities.
Limitations and Areas for Future Research
Although this study shows promising results, there are a few limitations to note. The study was conducted with sedentary older women, so we don’t know if the results would be the same for men or for individuals who are more physically active. Future studies should include a more diverse group to see how BET impacts different populations.
The sample size was also relatively small, with only 24 participants. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine if the results hold up across more diverse populations. Additionally, the study was short-term, lasting only eight weeks. Long-term studies could provide more insights into the lasting effects of BET on cognitive and physical health.
Lastly, this study focused on a narrow set of tasks. Future research should expand the scope to include other important activities, like memory tasks or more complex motor skills, to see how BET affects daily life.
Conclusion: BET as a Promising Tool for Healthy Aging
BET has proven itself to be a powerful tool for improving both cognitive and physical performance in older adults. By combining mental and physical training, BET helps older adults build the resilience they need to manage fatigue and continue functioning at a high level. The research by Díaz-García, García-Calvo, and Ring offers strong evidence that BET can make a significant difference in the lives of older adults, helping them stay sharp and active as they age
As we move into a future with an aging population, interventions like BET that simultaneously enhance cognitive and physical function will become crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life. Whether it’s staying mentally sharp or physically fit, BET is paving the way for a healthier, more resilient older population.
% Change from BET to Control
Cognitive Performance (Fresh): BET improved by 3.7%, while the control group decreased by 0.4%, a difference of 4.1%.
Cognitive Performance (Fatigued): BET improved by 7.8%, while the control group increased by 0.3%, showing a difference of 7.5%.
Physical Performance (Fresh): BET improved by 16.5%, compared to the control group’s 10.8%, a 5.7% difference.
Physical Performance (Fatigued): BET improved by 29.9%, while the control group only improved by 7.1%, creating a 22.8% difference.