University of Birmingham researchers receive £1.9m BBSRC funding to find ‘goldilocks’ level of exercise and improve guidance for older people
Older people could find maintaining a beneficial exercise regime to promote brain health easier, as new research will find out optimal levels of activity to maintain and improve cognition and blood flow to the brain.
A team of researchers at the University of Birmingham will receive £1.9m of funding from BBSRC to look at the mechanisms that lead to improved brain health following exercise. Combining psychology and exercise science expertise and world-leading facilities in brain scanning, the team will look at four key questions:
The new study has been funded as the UK older adult population is projected to rise by seven million by 2050, and fewer than 35% of older adults in England meet currently promoted physical activity guidelines. Lower levels of physical activity have been shown in previous studies to correlate with an increased risk in dementia and age-related cognitive decline.
...we will work with older adults and make meaningful gains in finding the ‘goldilocks’ level of intensity that is ‘just right’ when it comes to beneficial exercise.
Dr Katrien Segaert from the University of Birmingham and a lead researcher of the programme said: “Regular exercise is one of the most beneficial modifiers of health in people of all ages. In older adults, there is ample evidence that exercise has some level of protective benefit for the brain, but the big question is always how much and in what intensity do individuals need to make a difference.
“The University of Birmingham is uniquely placed with world-leading sport and exercise scientists and state-of-the-art brain imaging facilities to answer this question. Over the next four years, we will work with older adults and make meaningful gains in finding the ‘goldilocks’ level of intensity that is ‘just right’ when it comes to beneficial exercise.”
Professor Sam Lucas from the University of Birmingham and co-lead researcher said: "With exercise and health benefits, there can be a whole host of issues with taking a ‘more is more’ approach. In older adults in particular, having sustainable exercise programmes that are actually having a positive impact is crucial. Too much or too hard can lead to injury and a difficulty to maintain motivation. Too little or too easy could not produce enough blood lactate or other beneficial factors of health. As a result, answering crucial questions about the optimal amount could have a significant benefit for public health in older people.”
The new study, called Optimising Brain Vascular Health in Later Life will be partnering with Age UK Birmingham and will co‑produce new guidelines with older adults.
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Associate Professor
Dr Katrien Segaert's research focuses on sentence level language processing, mostly syntactic and semantic processing.
Professor of Cerebrovascular, Exercise & Environmental Physiology
Professor Lucas is an integrative physiologist with a special interest in cerebral blood flow regulation and the resultant impact on brain function.
