Health, Brain & Cogniton Lab Director Dr. Michelle Voss was recently interviewed by Prevention magazine for her insights on newly-published study showing that normally sedentary older adults who performed “moderate-to-vigorous physical activity” over time developed stronger cognitive abilities related to memory and processing, boosting brain health.

Cross-sectional findings from the IGNITE study, published April 24, 2025, in Age and Ageing,  examined associations between 24-hour time-use composition (i.e. sleep, sedentary time, light physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) and cognitive performance and explored whether demographic or genetic factors moderated these relationships. It found that as little as five minutes of brisk movement, like jogging or taking a few flights of stairs, was associated with better cognition, especially in older adults.

“What’s good for the heart is good for the brain,” Dr. Voss tells Prevention. “And that includes physical exercise.” In the full article, she goes on to explain that improved cardiorespiratory fitness means the body gets better at delivering oxygen-rich blood to where it's needed, including the brain where it fuels neural function.

The IGNITE study results are consistent with Health, Brain & Cognition Lab research findings. The lab's research focuses on how health and health behaviors at higher intensities sustain thinking and memory through positive effects on our brains as we age, and how thinking and memory abilities impact our decisions to change behaviors to support healthy aging.