"Even light intensity" was beneficial "across all populations." Here's how long it took before most showed the results.
Whether you live for muscle-shaking workouts or need a push to get up and move, here’s a case for exercise whose results we can’t necessarily measure with the eye, scale, or grip strength tester.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine published a June 2025 study that closely examined how exercise might influence general cognition, memory, and executive function.
An international team of health sociology researchers were inspired to take a new perspective, as they note previous research had “focused on healthy populations and excluded individuals who might derive the greatest benefit from exercise interventions, such as those with cognitive impairment or chronic diseases.” They added that past analyses “did not encompass mind-body exercises like yoga or Tai Chi, which may confer unique cognitive benefits.”
Public health researchers gathered data from 133 reviews involving a total of 258,279 participants between the ages of six and 90 years old. Many reviews examined mixed-mode exercise (workouts comprised of multiple types of exercise), though some looked at individual exercises. These included aerobic, resistance, dance, yoga, and video games that require physical activity, as well as popular Chinese workouts Tai Chi and Baduanjin.
The results suggested that exercise “significantly improved” brain function, especially in children and teens, and even among those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who “exhibited greater improvement in executive function than other populations.” This might be interpreted to mean that with exercise, they were better able to focus on and follow through with tasks.
Lead author Ben Singh, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of South Australia, also told Prevention that there were noteworthy brain benefits of movement for older groups. “As the brain ages,” Dr. Singh commented, “it undergoes structural and functional changes that can lead to cognitive decline, brain atrophy, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.” He added: “Regular physical activity … reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to cognitive decline.” Exercise, he suggested, can help “counteract these effects by preserving brain volume, particularly in regions essential for memory, such as the hippocampus.”
The three types of exercises that illustrated this theme were:
- tai chi, a gentle martial art modality focused on moving energy throughout the body in a way that benefits major organs and corresponds with breathing
- yoga, a combination mindfulness, poses that promote flexibility and opening of the joints, and connection with breath
- “exergames,” or video games involving physical activity (such as the Nintendo Switch games Just Dance and Ring Fit Adventure)
The research also indicated that low- and moderate-intensity exercise showed the greatest effects on brain health, and a positive influence was seen after one to three months of routine activity.
The study’s authors concluded, “These findings provide strong evidence that exercise, even light intensity, benefits general cognition, memory and executive function across all populations, reinforcing exercise as an essential, inclusive recommendation for optimizing cognitive health.”
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