Do the effects of activity on thinking differ depending on gender?

Imagine you have two teams preparing for a big race, one with all men and the other with all women. They’re both training hard, but are they getting the same benefits to their performance? Well, just like in this scenario, a recent study suggests that the effects of physical and mental activity on thinking skills may vary depending on whether you’re a man or a woman. While previous research has shown that staying active can help preserve cognitive abilities and delay cognitive decline, this new study adds an interesting twist by highlighting potential differences based on gender.

Think of it like different fuel sources for different cars. Both physical and mental activity provide a boost to cognitive health, but the way they impact men and women may be like using regular fuel in one car and premium fuel in another. The benefits might still be there, but they could be experienced differently depending on gender.