Middle-aged people who exercise could be improving their brainpower as well as fitness.
A new study has shown exercise can make middle-aged people not only healthier but also smarter. The data from the Montreal Heart Institute comes from participants who all had a BMI between 28 and 31 (overweight) – someone with a BMI of over 30 is considered obese.
The participants underwent periods of high-intensity interval training, which consists of alternating short periods of low- and high-intensity aerobic exercise. Researchers found participants’ “cognitive function had greatly improved thanks to exercise”. Cognitive function, VO2max*, and brain oxygenation were measured as the participants exercised.
So how does this relate to the Cayman Islands? According to the latest HSBC Expat Explorer survey the Cayman Islands came top when expats were asked about sporting opportunities. The top five countries for sport, according to expats surveyed, were:
- Cayman Islands
- Bermuda
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Hong Kong
For middle-aged expats moving to these countries the opportunities to enjoy sport appears appear to be frequent. These expats can not only benefit from improved health and potential weight loss but also greater mental ability.
*VO2max is the maximum capacity of an individual’s body to transport and use oxygen during exercise. It impacts on the body’s ability to oxygenate the brain and is related to cognitive function.
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