from the journal NeuroImage
To be mentally fit, it helps to be physically fit. That’s pretty well known, but Japanese researchers used neuroimaging of different parts of the brain to show a direct relationship between brain activity, brain function and physical fitness in older men. They reported in the journal NeuroImage that men who were more fit performed better mentally, including faster reaction times, than less fit men by using parts of their brains in the same way as they did when younger. The researchers explain that as we age, we use different parts of our brain than we did when young. One possible factor may be that active brain cells require fresh oxygenated blood to dislodge deoxygenated blood from the brain. They say another possibility is that fitter adults are better able to maintain the white matter that helps parts of the brain communicate.