Ever wondered how well your brain is really ageing?
While physical fitness gets most of the spotlight, your cognitive health is just as important.
Sit-to-stand test
This popular physical test measures how many times you can stand up from a seated position and sit back down in 30 seconds.
It evaluates lower body strength and mobility, which are both linked to overall biological age and frailty risk.
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Cognitive flexibility matters
As you age, your brain’s ability to adapt, switch tasks, and manage distractions becomes crucial.
This mental agility – known as cognitive flexibility – is a major marker of how well your brain is ageing, according to Marco Arkesteijn, a lecturer in sport and exercise biomechanics at Aberystwyth University.
Trail Making Test – Part A
In this test, you connect numbers in numerical order as quickly as possible.
It assesses your psychomotor speed and visual scanning ability – both essential for day-to-day problem-solving and quick thinking.
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Trail Making Test – Part B
This part steps it up by asking you to alternate between numbers and letters (1-A-2-B, etc.).
It’s designed to measure your ability to shift between tasks and inhibit automatic responses – core skills for executive functioning.
The time gap reveals a lot
If there’s a significant time difference between your completion of part A and part B, it could signal reduced cognitive flexibility or difficulties with task switching – key indicators of how your brain may be slowing down.
Stroop Task
This classic test asks you to name the colour of the ink a word is printed in – not the word itself.
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For example, if the word “RED” is written in blue ink, the correct response is “blue”. It’s a simple way to test attention control and cognitive interference.
Signs of mental slowdown
Struggling with the Stroop Task – like hesitating or making frequent errors – may reflect difficulties in overriding automatic habits, which can be early warning signs of cognitive decline or attention-related issues.
Dual-task challenge
This test involves doing two tasks at once, such as walking while talking or counting backwards while balancing.
It evaluates how your brain handles multitasking, particularly under physical or mental stress.
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Falls and fear are red flags
Difficulty performing dual tasks might show up as frequent stumbling, fear of falling, or the need to pause one task to focus on another.
These signs indicate reduced coordination between cognitive and motor functions.
Repeat for real insight
Marco Arkesteijn recommends repeating these tests a few times initially, then redoing them monthly to track changes.
While mental decline can be gradual, regular testing helps highlight trends – for better or worse.
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The article is based on information from The Sun.