Drinking water may help exercising seniors stay mentally sharp

Older people should drink more water to reap the full cognitive benefits of exercise, a study suggests.

The study presented at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting in San Diego, US explores the association between hydration status before exercising and exercise-enhanced cognition in older adults.

Dehydration has been shown to impair exercise performance and brain function in young people, but less is known about its impact on older populations.

"Middle-age and older adults often display a blunted thirst perception, which places them at risk for dehydration and subsequently may reduce the cognitive health-related benefits of exercise," said Brandon Yates from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in the US