Prioritizing your body’s well-being extends beyond exercise, as a recent study sheds light on the critical role of sleep in maximizing the cognitive benefits of physical activity.

While exercise is a cornerstone for preventing chronic diseases, enhancing longevity, and mitigating cognitive decline, the study underscores the comparable importance of adequate sleep. Researchers found that individuals engaging in more frequent and higher-intensity physical activity, combined with less than six hours of nightly sleep on average, exhibited accelerated cognitive decline compared to those who exercised infrequently but enjoyed more extended periods of sleep.

Lead author Dr. Mikaela Bloomberg, a research fellow at the Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care at University College London, emphasized the study’s revelation: “Our study suggests that getting sufficient sleep may be required for us to get the full cognitive benefits of physical activity.” This insight amplifies the understanding of the intricate interplay between sleep, exercise, and cognitive health, particularly as individuals age.