ABSTRACT
Anecdotal reports from many exercisers often suggest that after physical activity they are able to think ‘better’, more clearly, or simply feel that their alertness is improved. Similarly, it is often claimed that active children ‘do better’ at school. A grand claim! These suggest that physical activity can have a positive eect on some forms of cognitive functioning its importance is clear across the age span. For example, for young people the potential for cognitive and academic growth at this important life stage, including brain development, is clear to see and justify. Moreover, for older adults cognitive decline is possible and therefore physical activity may be a strategy to slow or prevent such a decline. Indeed, the huge personal, social and health care costs of cognitive impairment in later life – something only increasing as the population ages at an increasing rate – means that physical activity could be a particularly important health behaviour to promote. For these reasons, this chapter will address physical activity and cognitive functioning by reviewing the evidence with an emphasis on young people and older adults. Specically, in this chapter, we aim to:
● introduce and dene the concept of cognitive functioning; ● review the evidence linking physical activity with cognitive functioning in young people,
including measures of academic achievement; ● review the evidence linking physical activity with cognitive functioning in adults and
older adults; ● review the evidence concerning the role of physical activity in reducing the risk of
cognitive decline in older adults.
