The study involved 24 healthy, sedentary women aged 65 to 78, who were randomly assigned to three groups: BET, exercise-only, and a control group without training.

Both the BET and exercise training groups engaged in a structured physical training protocol for eight weeks, consisting of resistance and endurance exercises, with sessions held three times a week.

Machine learning methods were employed to confirm the findings, suggesting that the protective effects of moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) on cognitive function are likely to persist.

Results indicated that BET significantly improved cognitive and physical performance among participants, particularly under conditions of fatigue.

Chris Ring, a corresponding author from the University of Birmingham, highlighted the potential of BET to improve healthspan and reduce fall risks in older adults.

Cognitive decline among the elderly is a significant public health issue, with projections indicating a drastic rise in the economic costs associated with dementia by 2050.

This study represents the first controlled trial demonstrating that physical exercise can enhance cognitive abilities in healthy older individuals.

Researchers from the University of Extremadura in Spain and the University of Birmingham in the U.K. have developed a novel training approach known as Brain Endurance Training (BET), aimed at enhancing cognitive and physical performance in older adults.

The BET group exhibited an average physical performance improvement of 29.9% when fatigued, surpassing the gains of the exercise-only group.

Cognitive accuracy on the Stroop test improved by 12.1% in the BET group compared to 6.9% in the exercise-only group when participants were fatigued.

Participants were assessed for cognitive and physical performance at multiple intervals: before training, halfway through, immediately after, and four weeks post-program.

The findings emphasize that moderate-intensity physical activity may offer sustained cognitive protection and should be prioritized in health interventions for older populations.