Healthy Lifestyle and Cognition: Interaction between Diet and Physical Activity.

Purpose Of Review: This review discusses current research on the impact of specific dietary patterns and exercise, both individually and combined, on cognitive function in older adults.

Recent Findings: Observational evidence generally supports a relationship between diet adherence and positive cognitive outcomes related to memory, executive function, and risk for cognitive impairment; however, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are limited. Exercise research is more extensive, showing improvements in cognitive performance after exercise interventions regardless of baseline cognitive status and noting lower incidences of cognitive impairment in people who engage in regular physical activity.