Enhancing Cognitive Health in Aging with NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainers
Brain health is a serious concern in aging populations. As lifespans increase, so does the prevalence of cognitive decline. This year, an estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older will be living with Alzheimer’s dementia.
A 2016 study found that among seniors 65 and older, about 1 in 10 has dementia, and another ~22% live with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Cognitive decline ranges from subtle memory issues to severe Alzheimer’s disease, which currently affects over 7 million Americans and is projected to nearly double by 2050. This looming epidemic has sparked growing public concern around cognitive longevity. Surveys show Alzheimer’s is among the most feared health conditions in older age. One poll of retirees found that 32% of them feared Alzheimer’s more than cancer or heart disease.
In another Alzheimer’s Association report, nearly 4 in 5 Americans said they would want to know early if they had Alzheimer’s, and 92% would take action (even medication) to slow its progression. Clearly, preserving brain health and independence is a top priority for aging adults and their families. Amid this concern, research is focusing on lifestyle interventions to support brain health.
Cardio Exercise as a Strategy in Memory Care
Regular exercise has emerged as a powerful strategy to promote healthy cognitive aging. Aerobic physical activity is increasingly linked to benefits like better memory, sharper executive function, and a reduced risk of dementia. In response, many memory care settings are integrating exercise programs into patient care.
NuStep recumbent cross trainers are a popular choice in these settings. The NuStep is a low-impact exercise machine that delivers a total-body cardio and strength workout from a safe, seated position. The NuStep is also frequently used as a modality in various rehabilitation and senior fitness studies. In the sections that follow, we explore the benefits of exercise in cognitive health, and how exercising on NuStep cross trainers can support brain health in memory care settings.
The Science Behind Exercise and Cognitive Function
Decades of research have built a strong case that aerobic exercise benefits the brain. One key mechanism is improved blood flow. During exercise, the heart pumps more blood throughout the body, including the brain. This increases oxygen and nutrient delivery to brain tissue. Better blood flow translates to better delivery of glucose and removal of waste in the brain, which may help keep neurons healthy. Exercise also triggers neurobiological effects that support neurogenesis and neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to grow new neurons and connections.
The following are a sampling of studies that show the benefits of cardio exercise on brain health:
- Cerebral blood flow improvements
- 8 weeks of aerobic training boosted cerebral blood flow in older men by ~27% in frontal regions important for cognition.
- A 12-week exercise program in sedentary seniors showed increased blood flow in the anterior cingulate (attention and executive function) as compared to non-exercisers.
- Neuroplasticity and structural brain changes
- Physical activity elevates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other growth factors, stimulating new neuron growth in the hippocampus (memory center).
- A year-long study found moderate aerobic exercise increased hippocampal volume, reversing 1–2 years of normal shrinkage, with corresponding memory improvements.
The benefits of exercise are most pronounced with consistent, ongoing activity. Consistency trumps intensity for older adults. While high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can improve cardiovascular fitness, it may be less practical for frail older adults. Moderate-intensity exercise is easier to sustain and still yields significant cognitive benefits. Health guidelines echo this approach: the American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week as a key metric to support a wide range of health benefits including improving cognition.
How NuStep Cardio Exercise Supports Brain-Health
For many older adults, especially those with limited mobility, working out on traditional exercise equipment can be challenging. This is where the NuStep recumbent cross trainer offers unique advantages. Its seated design and low-impact workout allow even deconditioned individuals or those with balance problems to engage in safe aerobic exercise. The user pedals against resistance — using both the legs and arms – mimicking a natural walking or stepping motion.
By minimizing joint stress, older adults can exercise without exacerbating arthritis or other conditions, enabling longer sessions and more total-body muscle engagement.
In a hospital-based trial of exercise for geriatric inpatients, researchers chose the NuStep (along with other seated machines) for high-risk patients. They reported that stationary machines like the NuStep were “suitable and safe” for patients at risk of falls, whereas exercises requiring standing balance were often too difficult or failed to get heart rates into the target zone.
The NuStep’s inclusive design (including a swivel seat and step-through frame) makes it accessible for those with limited mobility. Another key feature is that the NuStep provides a total-body workout. Users move their arms and legs in sync, which engages both upper and lower body muscle groups. This contralateral, rhythmic motion not only boosts cardiovascular output but also stimulates the nervous system in a unique way.
Research in exercise physiology has shown that coupling arm and leg movements can enhance neural activation. In fact, a study of recumbent stepping found that when participants actively pushed with their arms, it increased the muscle activation in their legs compared to passive leg movement. The authors attribute this to inherent neural coupling between the upper and lower limbs. In other words, our nervous system naturally links arm and leg motions during locomotion.
For a person using the NuStep, this means engaging the arms can “drive” the legs and recruit more muscle fibers than leg movement alone. This has promising implications for those with neurological impairments or weakness: by leveraging interlimb neural pathways, the NuStep may help increase neuromuscular activation and promote activity-dependent neuroplasticity even if a patient’s legs are weak. Neurologists have noted that such self-driven exercise (using one limb to assist another) encourages the patient’s brain to rewire and relearn movements, which is valuable in stroke and Parkinson’s rehabilitation.
Movement That Engages the Brain
Beyond muscle activation, the coordinated contralateral motion on a NuStep inherently engages the brain’s motor planning and executive function. Users must coordinate their arms and legs, maintain a rhythm, and adjust effort to keep a consistent pace. These tasks activate frontal and prefrontal brain regions involved in motor sequencing and dual tasking.
Aerobic exercise has been shown to especially benefit executive functions (like task switching, attention, and processing speed) in older adults. For example, one study observed that after a routine of moderate exercise, older adults performed better on an executive function test (with 5% faster response times) compared to before training.
Benefits of NuStep Exercise in Memory Care
The advantages of exercising on a NuStep cross trainer can be viewed holistically in that it can benefit the whole person which is ideal for memory care. The NuStep:
- Delivers low-impact, joint-friendly cardio: The smooth recumbent stepping motion reduces stress on the knees, hips, and back. This means even residents with joint issues can achieve a comfortable workout.
- Reducing orthopedic strain is important, as pain or injury can discourage activity. By enabling low impact movement, NuStep helps older adults accumulate the recommended aerobic exercise minutes each week.
- Safe and accessible for diverse abilities: The NuStep’s design (with a low step-through, a 360-degree swivel seat, a sturdy grab ring, and a locking mechanism) provides safe on and off access. This allows those with balance issues or limited mobility to experience the benefits of total-body exercise.
- Empowers independent workouts: resistance levels are adjustable, and the low starting force and user-controlled step length allow individuals to exercise at their own pace.
- Offers cognitive and social engagement: Exercise on the NuStep can be an engaging activity that stimulates the mind. Staff can encourage residents to reminisce or chat while pedaling or even set up the NuStep facing a window or a virtual “scenic ride” program to spark interest.
- Group exercise sessions with multiple NuStep machines allow for social interaction (“NuStep classes”). The machine’s simplicity means participants can chat or listen to music at the same time, effectively making it a dual-task exercise (physical + cognitive stimulation). Studies have shown that combining physical exercise with mental or social stimulation can have synergistic effects on cognitive function in older adults.
- Doubles as mood lifting sessions. The release of endorphins after a NuStep workout can help boost a resident’s mood, so, too can the sense of accomplishment.
- Research from the National Library of Medicine indicates regular exercise can improve mood and even slow cognitive decline in those with dementia, so these sessions contribute to a more positive, alert mindset in participants.
- Helps maintain physical function and independence: The physical benefits of NuStep training can translate directly into better daily functioning for memory care residents. Improved leg strength and endurance mean a person is more likely to maintain the ability to stand, transfer, and walk safely.
This whole-person approach integrates fitness with cognitive care while embodying the active aging philosophy: even older adults with cognitive decline should have the opportunity to improve their health and the tools to do so.
Conclusion
Research shows that cardiovascular exercise is one of the most promising interventions to support brain health in older adults. NuStep recumbent cross trainers provide an evidence-based, practical means of delivering that intervention to older adults who might otherwise be sedentary. By enabling safe, accessible, and effective exercise, NuStep helps older adults achieve the frequency of physical activity that experts say is needed for brain health maintenance.
And just as importantly, regular NuStep exercise offers a sense of routine, accomplishment and engagement that helps contribute to the quality of life for adults in memory care.
Browse NuStep cross trainers today or reach out to learn more about NuStep.
