Study: 30-Minute Exercise Habit May Improve Middle-Aged Mood
Three months of regular exercise can significantly improve mood in adults aged 45-65, though cognitive benefits may require a longer training period.
Research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience suggests that middle-aged adults can experience mental health benefits from just three months of regular exercise.
The study involved 52 participants aged 45 to 65. Half of them completed a combination of aerobic and resistance training three times a week for three months, with their mood and cognitive performance being measured.
Results indicated that the 30-minute online exercise classes, conducted three times weekly, significantly improved participants' mood compared to a control group. However, cognitive benefits, particularly those linked to the hippocampus, might require a longer or more intensive exercise program to emerge.
Researchers also investigated neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells. Blood serum tests from participants showed that the exercise group's serum reduced the number of stem cells available for development into new neurons. Scientists hypothesize that the brain might be conserving these stem cells for later use, a process that exercise may aid.