Published on: Aug 28, 2025
New research suggests that staying fit could help older adults avoid those frustrating tip-of-the-tongue moments, when a word’s meaning is clear but its sound temporarily slips away.
In a study published in Neurobiology of Aging, scientists examined 73 healthy adults aged 60–81. Participants completed a gold-standard cardiorespiratory fitness test (VO₂ peak) and underwent MRI scans while performing a word-finding task. They were shown definitions and asked to produce the correct word. On average, older adults experienced tip-of-the-tongue states in about one out of every six attempts. However, individuals with higher fitness levels showed distinct patterns of brain activity and had noticeably fewer lapses.
Lead author Dr. Foyzul Rahman from the University of Birmingham explained: What surprised us most was how fitter older adults used a language-related brain network more effectively during word-finding attempts. Their brains were compensating in real time for age-related changes in language.
Why Fitness Matters
VO₂ peak, a key indicator of how well the heart, lungs, and muscles work together, typically declines with age. While healthy younger adults average around 40 ml/kg/min, the older adults in this study had an average VO₂ peak of 27.55 ml/kg/min — consistent with population norms. Even so, small improvements in fitness can have major health benefits: each 1 ml/kg/min increase in VO₂ peak is linked to a 10–15% reduction in all-cause mortality risk.
Beyond brain function, higher fitness is also strongly associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and early death.
Encouraging Takeaway
Senior author Dr. Katrien Segaert emphasized that the benefits don’t require extreme training: For most people, aiming for about 150 minutes of moderate activity per week — such as brisk walking, cycling, or dancing — aligns with NHS guidelines and can make a meaningful difference. Our participants weren’t athletes many were just reasonably active.
While the study highlights a strong link between fitness and better language function in aging, the researchers stress that more long-term and intervention studies are needed to confirm causality. Still, the findings add to growing evidence that regular movement supports both body and brain health as we age.
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