By Stan Purdum
“E-Bikes Could Help Slow Cognitive Decline” was the topic line on a recent e-newsletter from Bicycling magazine, and it’s likely to draw in readers — particularly senior cyclists looking for a reason to give ebikes a try. The headline on the actual article was “Why Older Riders May Get a Surprising Benefit From E-Bikes,” and the subhead, also a catchy one, said, “Even if you aren’t working as ‘hard,’ your brain may get a bigger boost.”
The article was written by Selene Yeager, also known as “The Fit Chick.” She’s a health and fitness writer and USA Cycling certified coach whose compositions often appear in Bicycling. In this piece, she was summarizing the findings of a study conducted at the University of Reading, a public research school in Reading, Berkshire, England. The study was published in PLOS One.
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of an outdoor cycling intervention on cognitive function, mental health and well-being in older adults. And the study’s findings justify the sensational sounding topic line, for in short, they suggest that senior cyclists on ebikes have a big edge over nonriders and a small edge over even riders of regular bikes when it comes to slowing cognitive decline. (The research was part of the “cycle BOOM” project, which is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the UK Research Councils’ Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Programme.)
The research involved 100 older adults aged 50–83. None were regular cyclists. For the study, 36 were assigned to ride a conventional bike at least three days a week for 30 minutes each time for an eight-week period. Another 38 participants were given the same assignment but were provided ebikes to use. The remaining 26 were not to cycle at all, thus serving as a control group. Cognitive function and well-being were measured of all participants before and after the intervention period.
For “executive function” — the set of cognitive processes and mental skills that allow individuals to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, manage emotions and juggle multiple tasks successfully — both cycling groups improved in accuracy after the intervention compared to the non-cycling control group. Both the bike and the ebike participants improved in processing speed and mental health score compared to the control participants. The study abstract says, “This suggests that there may be an impact of exercising in the environment on executive function and mental health.”
However, the researchers also found that the beneficial effects were sometimes larger for the e-bike group compared to the non-ebike cyclists. “This suggests that it is not just the physical activity component of cycling that is having an influence,” the abstract says, “Both [regular] cycles and e-bikes can enable increased physical activity and engagement with the outdoor environment, with e-bikes potentially providing greater benefits.”
The verdict that outdoor cycling is good for our mind was no surprise at all to me. Some time ago, I wrote about this very thing for Road Bike Rider, in an article where I dubbed my bike “The Marvelous Thought Machine.” The day I wrote about in that piece was but one of many where being out on my bike helped me think my way out of a problem on which my mind had been stuck.
The specific day and thought problem I described in that article occurred when I was in my 60s, and back then, I was riding a traditional road bike. I’m now 80, and I ride a road ebike almost exclusively. But here’s the thing: The thinking breakthroughs seem to occur just as well while pedaling my ebike at 80 as they did when riding a regular bike when I was younger. I have no means for determining that such enlightening moments happen more easily on one kind of bike over the other, but my experience is that both kinds of bikes, when ridden outdoors, are marvelous thought machines.
The study researchers listened to the ebike participants to account for the slightly better cognitive results those riders had over the riders of the conventional bikes. In a press release, researcher Carien Van Reekum, a professor of psychology at the University of Reading, said, “… people who used e-bikes told us that they felt more confident in completing the requested activity of three 30-minute rides a week for eight weeks,” compared to the participants on regular bikes. “The fact that the group was able to get outside on a bike, even without much physical exertion, is likely to make people feel mentally better.”
The study’s ebikers also reported that they often rode for more than the required 30 minutes each time. Researcher Tim Jones concluded, “The E-bike enabled them to explore their local area and interact with people and the natural environment secure in the knowledge that they could rely on powered assisted support to get them home safely and stress-free.”
We cyclists already know that any form of cycling is better for us physically and emotionally than riding the sofa. Now we have reason to count on benefits in other parts of our being as well.
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
I’ve ridden a road bike since the late 1980s. But, due to an injury last fall, I had to get a road ebike. This “transition” only makes me sad. I doubt cognitive benefit exists. I know I need to get over it, but it is not happening yet.
I agree with you George. At 86, I still push the pedals. When I see people on E-bikes not pedaling, I wonder how much they are getting a cognitive benefit. I believe that E-bikes can be helpful to those of us who are older but for the 40 year olds, I wonder?
If they are not pedaling but still moving, then they are using a throttle. That is not the best ebike experience , IMO.
Interesting article. But apart from mental well being there is the physical part. Very important for the elderly as we all know.
In a study under young people that took place recently in the Netherlands, it was made clear that riders on a conventional bike were in much better shape than e-bike riders. So keep cycling with your own legs, in nature, preferably. No worries about empty batteries.
“None were regular cyclists.” Interesting study but not all of the results would apply to regular cyclists such as all of your readers. The results seem to say I can slow my cognitive decline by buying an e-bike. Nope.
I found this article to be somewhat pointless as it relates to Road Bike Readers/Riders. At 79 I’m now using an e-bike for recovery rides. Most rides are still unassisted but the frequent 60 mile rides are now more likely to be 40. I am pleased that I have every expectation to be able to continue riding well into the future even if I will require a little help turning the pedals.