Aerobics can help fight memory loss induced by sleep deprivation: Study

NEW DELHI: Forgotten where you put your keys, struggled to recall something you just read or found it harder to absorb new information after a sleepless night? There may be reason for that. Sleep deprivation can make it harder for the brain to form new memories. But a brief bout of exercise may help counter some of that damage, a new study suggests.Researchers found that 20 minutes of aerobic exercise helped preserve the ability to form new memories even after 30 hours without sleep. A 90-minute nap offered a comparable benefit, with both groups performing around 22% better on a memory task than participants who received no intervention.Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study involved 53 healthy adults aged 18 to 35 who were kept awake for 30 hours under laboratory monitoring.