Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Dementia is a critical global healthcare burden. There is an urgent need for interventions to prevent or mitigate cognitive decline. One promising strategy to improve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk in older adults is physical activity, such as aerobic exercise. Despite this, more research is needed to determine optimal exercise parameters. In particular, some benefits of exercise appear to be enhanced when performed in outdoor, natural environments, such as parks and forests, as compared to indoor or built environments, such as gyms or city streets. However, the role of a green exercise environment in promoting cognitive and brain health in older adults requires further investigation. The goal of our research was to compare the effects of outdoor versus indoor aerobic exercise programs on brain function and cognitive function in community dwelling older adults. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups for a 12 week aerobic exercise program: one group walked on forest trails, while the other group walked on treadmills and cycled on stationary bikes indoors. Before and after the exercise programs, we measured brain function using a neuroimaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Simultaneously, we measured a cognitive ability called working memory, which is important for maintaining independence while aging. We hypothesized that the outdoor exercise program would increase brain activity and improve cognitive performance more than the indoor program. We did not see any differences in the effects of the two exercise programs on brain activity or cognitive performance. This research helps us better understand the potential and limitations of outdoor exercise as a lifestyle strategy to support brain and cognitive health throughout aging.