Study: Aerobic Exercise Helps Preserve Mental Sharpness in Women After Menopause

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Aerobic exercise that raises the heart rate is said to help maintain and improve the cognitive abilities of women after menopause, according to recent research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

The study found that post-menopausal women who did aerobic exercise four days a week for six months performed better on cognitive tests than those who focused only on stretching and muscle-toning exercises. The improvement was particularly evident in executive function, the brain’s ability to help a person plan, manage several tasks at once, maintain focus, and remain independent.

Lead researcher Sharon Sanz Simon said all participants began the study with below-average cardiorespiratory fitness and did not exercise regularly. This condition made the findings relevant to middle-aged women in general.

“So the results of this study are relevant for post-menopausal women in general, not just for those who are already physically active,” said Sanz Simon, who is also an assistant professor of psychiatry at Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School, as reported by US News on Saturday (5/9/2026).

For the study, the researchers recruited 93 healthy women aged between 20 and 67. The participants were then divided into two groups: half followed an aerobic exercise programme, whilst the other half did flexibility and core-strengthening exercises. The aerobic exercise could be performed using a treadmill, an elliptical machine, or a static bicycle.