KABUL: Researchers at Northeastern University in Boston have made significant findings regarding the decline in physical activity during middle age. They identify age 49 as a critical point where changes in the brain directly affect movement behaviors.
Dr. Timothy Morris, a professor of human movement and rehabilitation sciences and one of the study’s authors, stated: “We found that the brain is the best predictor of movement behaviors. The decline in activity is not just due to physical fatigue, but rather a brain that no longer commands activity as it once did.”
The study analyzed data from over a thousand individuals aged 18 to 81, including self-reported exercise levels and MRI brain scans. Researchers found that a noticeable decline in physical activity typically begins around age 49.
The focus of the study was on a part of the brain known as the “Salience Network,” which helps identify important information and respond appropriately to environmental stimuli. As age increases, the function of this network diminishes, potentially reducing individuals’ motivation and ability to engage in physical activity.
Dr. Morris noted, “This network acts as an intermediary; when the relationship between age and physical activity changes, this network is at the center of that change.”
These findings could aid in designing programs to prevent the decline in physical activity during middle age. Enhancing cognitive skills such as focus, planning, and self-control, along with regular simple exercises like walking or stretching, can play a crucial role in maintaining brain and body health during this stage of life.
