Promoting and maintaining cognitive function through regular exercise can be greatly aided. While other studies have focused on the effect of moderate- to high-intensity aerobic workouts lasting six months to one year on executive function, motivating people to join such rigorous fitness regimens may prove more challenging.

Research compiled through previous investigations demonstrates that even short mild exercise sessions, like yoga and walking, can stimulate the brain and produce short-term cognitive performance improvements.

However, the effect that moderate aerobic exercise over an extended period has on brain function as well as its underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored.

A group of 125 healthy individuals aged 55-78 were randomly split into two groups: an exercise group cycled at low intensity three times weekly for three months while the control group continued their regular daily lives.

Researchers evaluated executive function using the Stroop test and prefrontal cortex activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy during each task prior to and post-3 month assessment.

Results indicated a substantial executive function improvement for those participating in exercise compared to control group, when data were analyzed by age. When looking specifically at people aged 68-78 years old who regularly engage in mild exercises. The benefits were particularly apparent.

An efficient activation increase of the prefrontal cortex was one of the key mechanisms enabling this improvement, meaning a high executive function with relatively lower brain activation levels.

These results demonstrate how mild exercise over just three months can strengthen functional networks within the brain, enabling prefrontal cortex to more successfully utilize Stroop tests.

These results demonstrate the profound positive results that stress-free mild exercise over three months has in strengthening prefrontal cortex and improving cognitive functions.