Rutgers study links aerobic exercise to improved cognitive skills in postmenopausal women

A study led by researchers at Rutgers University suggests that regular aerobic exercise can improve executive functions—cognitive skills such as planning, focus, and task-switching—particularly in postmenopausal women. The findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, highlight a potential method for protecting brain health during the menopause transition.

The research involved 93 healthy women between the ages of 20 and 67, nearly half of whom were postmenopausal. All participants initially had below-average cardiorespiratory fitness and were not regular exercisers. Over a six-month period, participants were assigned to either an aerobic exercise program or a stretching and toning program.

Results indicated that postmenopausal women who completed the aerobic program showed greater improvements in task-switching speed and error management compared to those in the stretching group. These cognitive gains were measurable after three months and continued to strengthen through the end of the six-month trial. The benefits were noted to be more pronounced in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women performing the same aerobic regimen.