How Much Exercise Does It Take to Improve Aging Cognitive Function?
If the relationship between exercise and dementia prevention is cause-and-effect, as much as 20 percent of Alzheimer’s disease may be attributable to physical inactivity. The benefit of aerobic training on cognitive function appears to be larger than strength training.
For more on quantifying exercise, see:
• Longer Life Within Walking Distance ( )
• How Much Should You Exercise? ( )
• The Secret to Weight Loss Through Exercise ( )
Preserving Your Mind is the largest chapter of my book, How Not to Age ( ). Check it out at your local public library, or listen to me read it on audiobook. (All proceeds I receive from the sales of all my books go to charity.)
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-Michael Greger, MD FACLM
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52 hours per month, year? This is tough to translate into a training regime.
I was about to ask the same thing!
or 52 hours a week
7.5 hours every day ))
I think weekly as per the text in the transcription. Not sure
Basically, find a trade.
It means that one has to exercise for a total cumulative of 52 hours before any cognitive benefits can be established. so if you exercise 1hr/day it would take 52 days.
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Funny you think god exists when if it did it allowed that tragedy to happen, along with the millions of other tragedies which happen every day around the world. Wake up and stop believing fairy tales.
The humility to eliminate all animal products is the most effective way to help humans.
It takes enormous amounts of land, scarce fresh water, and plants to feed exploited gentle pigs vs. Feeding a human child directly.
Vegan is a human rights matter as well.
Because of Jesus Christ heaven knows my Name praise God praying for everyone Everyday God bless you All….
I love this channel!
Resistance training is just as important but for different reasons.
My goal is to be able to get up off the floor, no hands, one leg, for as long as possible. Then I’ll revert to no hands, two legs. All my parents/step parents/in laws are in big trouble if they ever end up on the floor.
I agree, he recommends it in his books, he’s just saying it likely doesn’t impact cognitive function because thats the topic of this video
Thanks a lot Dr Greger. I needed this info right now . I am going to close my deviced and start walking 30 min. to begin with. ❤️
Do an updated video on alcohol please
No video needed.
There is no safe amount of alcohol. Every molecule has a negative affect on your body. Abstinence is the only option.
i would say stay clear of it, it kills every cell in the body, and there are no real benefits for consuming alcohol.
I was sedentary for a decade. I started moving several years ago and just ran my 5th marathon. I have been so discouraged cause my last two races went pretty badly. I appreciate the reminder though that it’s not about time, it’s about health!❤
Keep moving! I am impressed you went from couch potato to marathon runner. Keep at it! Running not for me, but love to hike and bike.
Chin up and keep on trucking! At almost 70 years old I finally realize that it is the training that matters and not the races. If your training feels good don’t worry about race day tactics and circumstances that negatively affect you. I know that many of the commenters might say that you don’t have to run a marathon for overall health and cognitive function protection but I fully understand that life is all about setting goals and achieving them. One day at a time!
Thanks Dr!
Preserving Your Mind is the largest chapter of my book, How Not to Age (https://nutritionfacts.org/book/how-not-to-age/ ). Check it out at your local public library, or listen to me read it on audiobook. (All proceeds I receive from the sales of all my books go to charity.)
7.5 hours a day? Wow, I thought I was doing well with 45 min a day for 5 days a week.
I think that the 52 hour comment at the end was not a per week requirement but rather that no cognitive improvement was noted until a total of 52 hours had been put in over whatever time period.
The average exercise dose from all included studies was 1 hour a day, 3 times per week, for 60 hours distributed over 25 weeks. However, the comparison between exercise dose measures in studies that reported positive and negative cognitive outcomes revealed that the most important correlate of improved cognition was the total intervention time. All studies associated with negative cognitive outcomes employed interventions lasting less than 52 hours, which was the median intervention time for studies associated with a positive cognitive outcome (figure 3). A cautious interpretation of this finding is that exercising for at least 52 total hours is likely to improve cognitive performance. While we found no relationships between cognitive improvements and session time, exercise frequency, intensity, and weekly minutes, we recommend that future studies examine these factors so that exercise guidelines for cognitive brain health can be developed.
How did you get 7.5 per day?
@@dianeladico1769 thank you for clarifying that for me
@@TheCrusaderRabbits I think they took the 52 hour threshold as a weekly amount.
Fascinating! Thank you so much <3
Wow. Depressing news.
Makes me wonder if I’m already declining mentally by asking this. But could someone just give me the bottom line of what’s the best exercise and for how long? This video was a little confusing to me.
Light aerobic and yoga combined with 2 to 3 days a week with body weight resistance training 😊
I’m with you because I thought I even just told my little doggie the same thing I thought what the heck is he talking about? Make a complete sentence that I can understand. 😂.
It seems he kept referring to study after study after study after study, totally confusing 🫤 me. At least that’s the way I perceived it. Maybe I haven’t had enough coffee this morning.
@@Airith4 ☺️ Thank you!
Most elderly people have problems getting up off the floor. As a child you spend a lot of time on the floor, adults do not.
Doing yoga / stretching exercises on the floor can improve balance, mobility, flexibility and the ability to get up and down..
Just getting up and down to the floor in a controlled manner is difficult for many older adults.
Play with your children on the floor. Bend over, get down and pull weeds in your garden. Play with a pet on the floor.
The more effort you make to work on balance and flexibility will pay dividends as you age.
Riding a bicycle is a great way to exercise. Ebikes are bringing many older adults back to cycling.
Cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles. Safe protected bike lanes and trails are needed so adults and children can ride safely. Speak up for bicycles in your community. Bicycles make life and cities better. Ask your local transportation planner and elected officials to support more protected bike lanes and trails. Children should be riding a bicycle to school and not be driven in a minivan. Be healthier and happier. Ride a bicycle regularly.
Never take exercise advice from a guy who’s calves are smaller than your biceps.
Daily exercise is key to as healthy life. Ride a bicycle to school, work or for fun.
Riding a bicycle is a great way to exercise. Ebikes are bringing many older adults back to cycling.
Cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles. Safe protected bike lanes and trails are needed so adults and children can ride safely. Speak up for bicycles in your community. Bicycles make life and cities better. Ask your local transportation planner and elected officials to support more protected bike lanes and trails. Children should be riding a bicycle to school and not be driven in a minivan. Be healthier and happier. Ride a bicycle regularly.
Make a bicycle your transportation option for short distance travel.
52 hrs per what? Per week, month, year??
well, here’s another one of these vids that leaves the cognitive challenged at a loss as to what the 52 hours of exercise really means…..like, per day, per week, per month, per year……….???