How exercise can ward off ‘senior moments’: Study finds healthy older people are more likely to recall words that are on the tip of their tongue

• The healthier an elderly person is the more likely they are to recall words  
• Study suggests improving physical fitness should result in better mental health
• The research studied the link between aerobic fitness and memory

‘Senior moments’ of forgetfulness might be caused by a lack of fitness, a study suggests.

Researchers who studied healthy older people found the fitter they were, the less likely they were to struggle to recall words that were on the tip of their tongue.

The study suggests improving physical fitness should result in better mental health as well.

The research, published in Scientific Reports, looked at the relation between aerobic fitness – how good the heart is at pumping oxygen around the body – and memory.

Researchers who studied healthy older people found the fitter they were, the less likely they were to struggle to recall words that were on the tip of their tongue

The study compared 28 adults – average age 70 for women and 67 for men – with 27 men and women aged on average in their early twenties. They were asked to name famous people based on 20 questions about them.

They were also given 40 definitions and asked to give the word being defined. An exercise bike test assessed their aerobic fitness.

Lead author Dr Katrien Segaert, of the University of Birmingham’s School of Psychology said: ‘Older adults free from medical diseases still experience age-related cognitive decline.

‘In our study, the higher the older adults’ aerobic fitness level, the lower the probability of experiencing a tip-of-the-tongue state.’

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