intensive sport on the weekend or more regular during the week?

Weekend Warriors

But when it comes to sport, which is more important, regularity or intensity? To find out, researchers in Mexico looked at a very specific profile of athletes, those we call “weekend warriors”. In short, those who, often due to lack of time during the week, concentrate all of their physical activity on two days.

The scientists followed more than 10,000 participants divided into three groups: the sedentary, those who practice during the week, and those who mainly devote themselves to it on the weekend. After 16 years of study, the results are particularly encouraging for those who have a busy schedule: compared to people who did not exercise, weekend athletes were less likely (-13%) to develop a disorder light cognitive. Compared to 12% for regular athletes!

“The protective effect of exercise on brain health could be explained in particular by the increase in neurotrophic factors (proteins responsible for the growth and survival of developing neurons and the maintenance of mature neurons – editor’s note) and brain plasticity,” explain the authors. “Physical activity is also associated with larger brain volume and better executive and memory functions. »

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