If you're an older adult living with multiple sclerosis, a new study suggests that a simple home exercise routine could help your brain work faster and leave you feeling less tired.
Researchers randomly assigned 51 older adults with MS to either a combined aerobic and resistance training program or a stretching control group. After 16 weeks, those who exercised showed significant improvements in executive function (like planning and focus), processing speed, fatigue, and health-related quality of life. The benefits were moderate to large, with effect sizes ranging from 0.48 to 0.66.
The exercise group had 20 participants, the control group 16. The control group saw no significant changes. This is early evidence, and the study was small, so more research is needed. But for older adults with MS, these results offer a hopeful, practical option to potentially sharpen the mind and ease symptoms.
No safety issues were reported, though the study didn't detail side effects or dropouts. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise program.