Here’s an excuse to get frisky between the sheets a couple of times a week – it boosts your brainpower.
That’s right, sexually active couples perform better on memory tests when they’re middle-aged than couples who don’t have regular romps, new research suggests.
But it only lasts for a short while, by the time you’re old, regular sex doesn’t improve your memory – but it has been linked to happiness and better health so don’t give it up.
Australian experts analyzed two years of data from more than 6,000 adults aged 50 and over. The results were published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.
They tracked their diet, sleeping habits and sex life. Participants were also asked to detail how often they kissed, touched each other and got down and dirty. Those who had more regular sex were able to recall recent events better than those who didn’t. But an active sex life did nothing to prevent cognitive decline over time.
Study leader Mark Allen said: “Decline in memory performance over time was unrelated to sexual activity or emotional closeness during partnered sexual activity.”
Age-related cognitive decline varies considerably from person to person. Diseases like dementia are heavily influenced by genes as well as lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking and a lack of exercise.