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Review of research published online April 24, 2017 British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that physical exertion may help improve pondering skills in adults aged 50 and over, no matter their mental performance after they began exercising. The researchers combed through 39 randomized controlled trials that checked out this age group. Most studies involved individuals who did aerobic exercise (the sort that gets your heart and lungs pumping, like brisk walking), resistance training (the sort that works your muscles and bones, like weight lifting), or a mixture of aerobics and resistance. Training A handful of studies involved individuals who did yoga or tai chi. In all the studies, participants took tests that measured different points of pondering skills—akin to attention, working memory, and the flexibility to plan, organize, and manage time. All types of exercise but yoga seem like helpful for the brain. The exercise regimen with the best brain boost was a mixture of aerobic and resistance-type training, at the very least moderate, for at the very least 45 minutes per session on most days of the week, the authors say. The carrier? Start exercising, and incorporate resistance training into your weekly routine.