Exercise and brain health
New Zealand, like other countries, has an ageing population. Maintaining brain health into older age to minimise the effect of age-related decline is important. We know that exercise is good for brain health, but there is little information available about effect of long-term participation in balance exercise, such as Tai Chi, Yoga, and Dance. We are interested in exploring the relationship between brain structure, thinking skills, balance and exercise. We will compare the brain structure (MRI) and, cognitive, vestibular and balance function of people who have been involved in balance exercise for a number of years with age matched controls who have not participated in organised, regular exercise in the last 5 years.
Participant recruitment
We are currently recruiting adults between the ages of 55 and 65 for this study. We are interested in both people who have been involved in regular balance exercise over the past 5 years and adults who have not been involved in regular exercise over the past 5 years.,
If you would like to know more about this study, please contact Ruth McLaren, ruth.mclaren@aut.ac.nz or 021 041 3436
What participants should expect
People who participate in this brain health study will
- Fill out an activity questionnaire online
- Attend two assessment sessions at the University of Auckland Grafton Campus (near Auckland Hospital- free parking provided).
- During the first session you will have an MRI of your brain and do some cognitive tests looking at your spatial perception
- During the second session you will have a complete assessment of your vestibular (balance) system by an audiologist and do some balance and walking tests
Who is doing this research?
This research is a collaboration between researchers from AUT, Auckland University and University of Otago. Professor Denise Taylor (AUT), Associate Professor Alan Wang (UoA), Professor Paul Smith (UoO), Dr Rachael Taylor (UoA), Associate Professor Yiwen Zheng (UoO).
What is this research contributing to?
Your participation will help us build our understanding of the impact of balance exercise on brain health. We hope this study will help inform the New Zealand healthy aging strategy, keeping New Zealanders active and able. In the future this may aid in the development of treatments to help maintain brain health for longer.
