Stay Energetic Even in Old Age! What is the Appeal of Synapsology, Which Trains the Body and Brain Simultaneously Through Dual-Task Exercise?

Today, I will talk about "exercise," which is
very important for living in our upcoming super-aging society.
In particular, I will introduce a somewhat unique exercise
that is also useful for dementia prevention,
calleddual-task exercise.
Huh, never heard of it? That's okay!
I will explain clearly
just how effective this exercise is.

What is dual-task exercise?

First, to explain simply,
dual-task exercise is
something that performsphysical exerciseandcognitive tasksat the same time.
For example, you might count numbers while walking,
or do calculations while moving your body.
This might sound like play, but
it is actually incredibly effective.

And the focus this time is on a dual-task exercise programcalled "Synapsology
".
This is an exercise created so that even the elderly can enjoy it without strain,
combining simple movements with stimuli that use the brain,
training the body and brain simultaneously.
Synapsology, that's a cool name, isn't it?
By moving the brain and body together,
it is the ultimate method for staying energetic and living a long life.

Background and Purpose of the Study

Now, it is said that in Japan, 1 in 5 elderly people
will develop dementia.
That's scary, right?
But, there is a possibility that dementia can be prevented.
So, in this study, we investigated
how much dual-task exercise can improve the physical and cognitive functions of the elderly
.We know that exercising makes the body energetic, but
the point here is that the brain can also be trained at the same time.
It's about sharpening the mind, not just the body.

Research Method: How was it done?

First, the participants in the study were24 elderly people.
The average age was 70.6 years old.
These participants were randomly divided into two groups.

1. Implementation group: A group that performed Synapsology for 60 minutes, twice a week, for 8 weeks

2. Control group: A group that did not perform Synapsology

We compared how exercise affects
physical and cognitive functions between these two groups.
Simply put, it's like checking which group became more energetic,
the "group that exercised" or the "group that didn't."

Evaluation Method

You're curious about how we specifically evaluated them,
right?
So, we used three methods.

1. TUG (Timed Up and Go) test
   This is a test that measures the time it takes to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, and return. This checks walking ability and balance ability. The faster you walk, the more energetic you are!

2. 25-Hole Trail-Making Peg Test
   This is a test where you insert pegs into holes numbered 1 to 25 in order. This is to evaluate cognitive function. In other words, it measures how fast your brain works.

3. Measurement of oxidative stress
   This is a test that measures oxidative stress in the body. High oxidative stress makes you more prone to illness, while low stress means you are healthy. It is considered particularly important in dementia prevention.

What were the results?

Now, for the important results, exercise was indeed great!
Participants in the implementation group showed the following improvements.

1. Improvement in physical function

As a result of the TUG test,
the group that performed Synapsology
improved their ability to stand up from a chair and walk.
In other words, their bodies became lighter because they exercised.
When your walking speed increases, you can
move more actively in your daily life as well.

2. Improvement in Cognitive Function

In the 25-Hole Trail-Making Peg Test as well, the cognitive function of the intervention group improved.
This means that Synapsology had a positive effect on the brain.
By using your head while moving your body, brain activity was stimulated.
If you don't use your brain, it will gradually decline, after all.

3. Reduction in Oxidative Stress

Furthermore, based on the measurement results of oxidative stress, oxidative stress in the body decreased in the group that practiced Synapsology.
This is incredibly important.
Having less oxidative stress means that the risk of illness is reduced, making it easier to maintain health.
In other words, Synapsology also has the effect of suppressing aging within the body.

Conclusion: Synapsology Is the Ultimate Exercise!

From the results of this study, it was confirmed that
dual-task exercise is effective for improving the physical and cognitive functions of the elderly.Since Synapsology produced results in a short period (8 weeks), it can be said to be a quite excellent program.
Moreover, the fact that it can be done while having fun is also a major point.

The wonderful thing about Synapsology is that it is designed so that even those who do not usually have an exercise habit or elderly people who feel uncomfortable with exercise can continue it happily.
If exercise isn't painful and can be done like a game, anyone would want to do it, right?

Changing the Future with Synapsology

Through this study, the potential of Synapsology has been proven once again.
As an exercise method that allows the elderly to train their bodies and brains while having fun, it will likely attract more and more attention in the future.
In particular, if it becomes widely popularized in local governments and nursing facilities, it is expected to contribute significantly to the prevention of dementia.

For the elderly, it is extremely important not only to move their bodies but also to train their brains.
Synapsology is a groundbreaking method that can achieve both.
Everyone, please be sure to teach it to the elderly around you.

By doing exercise and brain training at the same time, let's get the secret to living a long and healthy life!

• University of Tsukuba, Tailor-Made QOL Program Development Research Center

• Yoon, J., Isoda, H., & Okura, T. (2020). Evaluation of beneficial effect of a dual-task exercise based on Japanese transitional games in older adults: a pilot study. Aging.