Physical activity not only keeps the body fit and healthy, but also keeps the aging mind sharp, a new study conducted by University of Miami researchers revealed. A group of researchers studied the potential impact that physical exercise can have on a person’s aging brain health, and found that older adults who reported light or no physical exercise experienced a notable cognitive decline equal to then more years of aging as compared with other people who reported moderate to intense physical exercise.

Dr. Clinton B. Wright, a professor at University of Miami who authored the study, noted that regular physical exercise can help older people keep their cognitive abilities for a longer time.

Sharing the study’s findings, Wright said, “The number of people over the age of 65 in the United States is on the rise thinking and memory problems will likely grow. Our study showed that for older people, getting regular exercise may be protective, helping them in keeping their cognitive abilities longer.”

The researchers reached the conclusion after examining health data on nearly 900 adults with an average age of 71 years, and encouraging them to take memory and thinking tests five years apart.

The encouraging findings of the study were detailed in the latest online edition of Neurology, the acclaimed medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.