Regular exercise and remaining physically active not only benefits the body, but also the mind, new research has found. The study review by Hayley Guiney and Liana Machado from the University of Otago, New Zealand, focused on the importance of physical activity in keeping and potentially improving cognitive function throughout life. Studies in older adults reviewed by the researchers consistently found that fitter individuals scored better in mental tests than their unfit peers, journal 'Springer' reported. Intervention studies found scores in mental tests improved in participants who were assigned to an aerobic exercise regimen compared to those assigned to stretch and tone classes. Interestingly, these results were not replicated in children or young adults. The one area where physical fitness or regular exercise was found to have an effect on cognitive function in these age groups was for memory tasks. Both the updating of working memory and the volume of information which could be held was better in fitter individuals or those put on an aerobic exercise regime.  Climb stairs slowly to burn more fat  Look before you leap! Ascending one step at a time actually burns more calories than leaping up multiple stairs, a new study has found. Although more energy is initially expended when taking two steps per stride, over time, more energy is burnt up when you take your time, according to scientists from the University of Roehampton. Researchers found climbing five flights of stairs five times a week - an ascent of 15m - burnt an average of 302 calories if stairs were taken one at a time. However, taking two steps with every stride will only burn 260 calories, they said. .