The researchers suggest low activity reduces brain blood flow, while extreme exercise may trigger inflammation and oxidative stress.
HANGZHOU, China — A new study has found that both sedentary lifestyles and excessive exercise may accelerate brain aging, while moderate activity appears optimal for brain health.
Researchers at Hangzhou Normal University analyzed brain scans and fitness tracker data from nearly 17,000 participants in the UK Biobank, using AI to predict “brain age” based on structural features.
“We found a U-shaped relationship—both low and high levels of activity linked to faster brain aging,” the team reported in Health Data Science. Moderate exercisers had the youngest-looking brains, regardless of activity intensity.
The researchers suggest low activity reduces brain blood flow, while extreme exercise may trigger inflammation and oxidative stress. “People who did moderate amounts had the youngest-looking brains,” the study found.
Though differences in brain age were modest, they were statistically significant. The study cautions that while inactivity remains a major health concern, excessive exercise might offer diminishing or even harmful returns when it comes to long-term cognitive health.