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Social Neuroscience and Public Health pp 235–252Cite as

Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Cognition Across the Lifespan

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Abstract

In this chapter, we review the literature relative to physical activity, exercise training, and cardiorespiratory fitness associations with cognitive function, and brain structure and function. We begin by examining these relationships in the context of older adults, which represents the greatest proportion of the literature in this area. We conclude that data from exercise training studies show a consistent protective effect of exercise and, in particular cardiorespiratory fitness, on executive function and brain health. Next, we review a more recent series of studies that have focused on extending fitness effects on brain and cognition to children. This work is suggestive of a positive association between fitness and brain structure and function, cognitive function, and scholastic achievement. We conclude by discussing emerging trends and future directions in the physical activity and cognition field and argue that the maintenance of an active lifestyle across the lifespan may be as important for brain health as it is for physical health.

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Acknowledgments

Partial support for the preparation of this manuscript was provided by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD R01 HD055352) to Charles Hillman and the National Institute on Aging (NIA 2R01 AG020118) to Edward McAuley.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, USA

    Edward McAuley, Sean P. Mullen & Charles H. Hillman

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  1. Edward McAuley
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  2. Sean P. Mullen
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  3. Charles H. Hillman
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Correspondence to Edward McAuley .

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  1. , Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, University Avenue West 200, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada

    Peter A. Hall

Highlights

Highlights

  • Physical activity is associated with cognitive and brain health across the lifespan.

  • Physical activity effects on cognition appear to be selectively stronger for tasks that require extensive amounts of executive control.

  • Public health policies to keep seniors and children physically active should include brain health among the demonstrated benefits of a physically active lifestyle.

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McAuley, E., Mullen, S.P., Hillman, C.H. (2013). Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Cognition Across the Lifespan. In: Hall, P. (eds) Social Neuroscience and Public Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6852-3_14

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