An active sex life improves brain power in older adults

Older adults who lead an active sex life are more likely to have increased cognitive function, according to a new Oxford University research collaboration. The study which was conducted in partnership with the University of Coventry, found that people over the age of fifty, who engaged in above average levels of sexual activity, scored higher in a series of tests than others. A total of 73 people, (28 men and 45 women), took part in the study, findings from which were recently published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological and Social Sciences. Participants were asked to complete a series of questions assessing their general wellbeing and how often, on average, they engaged in sexual intercourse. Respondents then selected answers of either; never, monthly or weekly. The tests measured an individual's verbal fluency and their ability to visualise objects and the spaces between them. For the verbal fluency criteria, participants were asked a series of questions that could reflect their cognitive abilities.