Summary: Brain Endurance Training (BET) — a combined cognitive and physical exercise program originally developed for athletes — significantly improves both cognitive and physical performance in older adults. In a controlled study of sedentary women aged 65–78, participants who completed BET experienced larger gains in attention, executive function, and physical endurance than those who did exercise-only training or no training.
This approach targets mental fatigue as well as physical capacity. The research suggests BET may help preserve brain function and mobility with age, potentially lowering risks associated with poor balance and falls. While further validation in larger, more diverse groups is needed, these initial results indicate BET could be a practical strategy to support healthy aging.
Key Facts:
- BET delivered a 7.8% improvement in cognitive performance after exercise compared to 4.5% for exercise-only participants.
- Physical performance gains were higher for BET (29.9%) than for exercise alone (22.4%).
- BET appears to reduce the impact of mental fatigue on both cognitive tasks and physical tests.
Source: University of Birmingham
What is Brain Endurance Training (BET)?
BET combines structured physical training with targeted cognitive tasks performed before exercise. The protocol in this study included resistance and endurance exercise supplemented by a short, focused cognitive challenge prior to the workout. The goal is to build resilience against mental fatigue while simultaneously improving cardiovascular and muscular fitness — a combination that may translate into better everyday function for older adults.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham (UK) and the University of Extremadura (Spain) and published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise. The work is relevant to clinicians, exercise professionals, caregivers and older adults interested in interventions that support both the brain and the body.
Study overview and practical details
Twenty-four healthy, sedentary women aged 65–78 were randomly assigned to one of three groups: BET, exercise-only, or no training (control). The two active groups completed the same physical exercise program — three 45-minute sessions per week for eight weeks, each session consisting of approximately 20 minutes of resistance exercise and 25 minutes of endurance exercise. The BET group additionally performed a 20-minute cognitive task before each exercise session.
Performance was assessed with cognitive tests (psychomotor vigilance and Stroop tasks) and commonly used physical tests (walking test, chair-stand test, and arm-curl test). Tests were administered when participants were fresh and after a 30-minute cognitive task designed to induce mental fatigue, at baseline, mid-point (4 weeks), post-intervention (8 weeks), and at a 12-week follow-up.
Findings and interpretation
Both exercise groups showed improvements over the control group, but the BET group showed the largest and most consistent benefits, especially when participants were fatigued. Cognitive gains from pre- to post-intervention averaged 3.7% when fresh and 7.8% when fatigued for the BET group, compared with 3.6% and 4.5% respectively for the exercise-only group. Physical performance improvements averaged 16.5% (fresh) and 29.9% (fatigued) for BET, versus 13.8% and 22.4% for exercise only.
These results indicate BET is an effective countermeasure against mental fatigue and its negative impact on both cognitive and physical functions. The combined training appears to enhance resilience, helping older adults maintain better function under conditions that would normally degrade performance.
Implications and next steps
While the sample was small and limited to women, the study provides a clear rationale for larger randomized trials that include more diverse populations, longer follow-up, and comparisons across different cognitive tasks and exercise intensities. If replicated, BET could be incorporated into community exercise programs, rehabilitation, and preventive strategies to support healthy aging and reduce risk factors linked to falls and cognitive decline.
About this brain training and aging research news
Author: Beck Lockwood ([email protected])
Source: University of Birmingham
Contact: Beck Lockwood – University of Birmingham
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Brain endurance training improves sedentary older adults’ cognitive and physical performance when fresh and fatigued” by Chris Ring et al., Psychology of Sport and Exercise. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102757
Abstract
Brain endurance training improves sedentary older adults’ cognitive and physical performance when fresh and fatigued
Objectives
Aging and mental fatigue both impair cognition and physical function. This study tested whether Brain Endurance Training (BET) — the combination of cognitive tasks and exercise — can mitigate these impairments and improve performance when participants are fresh and when they are mentally fatigued.
Design
Twenty-four sedentary women aged 65–78 were randomly assigned to BET, exercise-only, or no training. The active groups performed three weekly 45-minute exercise sessions (20 minutes resistance, 25 minutes endurance) for eight weeks. The BET group performed an additional 20-minute cognitive task before exercise. Cognitive and physical performance were measured at baseline, mid-test (4 weeks), post-test (8 weeks), and follow-up (12 weeks), both when fresh and after a 30-minute cognitive fatigue task.
Results
Both training groups showed better cognitive and physical performance than the control group at mid- and post-test. The BET group achieved greater improvements than the exercise-only group, particularly when fatigued. Average pre-to-post changes in cognitive performance were 3.7% (fresh) and 7.8% (fatigued) for BET; 3.6% and 4.5% for exercise; and −0.4% and 0.3% for controls. Physical performance changes averaged 16.5% and 29.9% for BET; 13.8% and 22.4% for exercise; and 10.8% and 7.1% for controls.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that BET can improve both cognitive and physical performance in older adults, particularly by reducing the detrimental effects of mental fatigue. Larger, more diverse trials are recommended to confirm these promising results and explore practical applications for healthy aging.