Innovative Multitasking Exercise Improves Sleep Quality in Older Women

Recent research conducted by scientists at the University of Tsukuba indicates that a unique form of exercise combining cognitive tasks with physical movements significantly enhances the quality of sleep in older women. This study highlights the potential for developing targeted exercise programs aimed at improving sleep among aging populations.

The relationship between sleep quality and brain activity is complex. During deep sleep, brain wave amplitudes increase, and ? (delta) power--a critical objective measure of sleep quality--elevates, indicating deeper, more restorative sleep. Engaging in physical activity and mental tasks during the day is known to boost delta power, suggesting that multitasking exercises, which integrate both physical and cognitive demands, may further enhance sleep quality.

As individuals age, delta power typically declines, and sleep quality can be further compromised by hormonal fluctuations, particularly in women. This prompted researchers to focus on the impact of multitasking exercises on sleep specifically in older women. The findings of this study were published in the journal NeuroImage.

The study involved a sample of 15 healthy older women from Tsukuba City who underwent five different conditions: (1) low-intensity single-task exercise, (2) low-intensity multitasking exercise, (3) moderate-to-vigorous single-task exercise, (4) moderate-to-vigorous multitasking exercise, and (5) a control condition consisting of resting while seated. Researchers measured brain activity in the prefrontal cortex before and after each exercise session and evaluated sleep stages along with delta power using polysomnography techniques.

The results revealed that engaging in low-intensity multitasking exercise led to immediate activation of the prefrontal cortex and a subsequent increase in delta power during sleep. These encouraging findings suggest that low-intensity multitasking exercise could serve as an effective strategy for enhancing sleep quality in older adults, paving the way for the design of innovative exercise programs tailored to this demographic.

For further details, refer to the study titled 'Multi-task exercise increases delta power in non-rapid eye movement sleep among older female adults: A randomized crossover trial' published in NeuroImage.