Good physical fitness may be a remedy for forgetting words

It’s on the tip of your tongue, but you just can’t seem to say it. A new study shows that a specific type of exercise may slow the problem.

Three older people sat talking around a table.

Forgetting words becomes increasingly common as we age.

(Stock photo: Melanie Stander / Unsplash)

Atle Christiansen Atle Christiansen COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER

Presented by: Presented by: University of Agder

Published 30 April 2026 - 00:01

You know you know it. The word is there somewhere, but then it disappears. Many of us have had that experience, and it becomes increasingly common as we get older.

In a new study, linguists, neuroscientists, and sports scientists at the University of Agder and the University of Birmingham have joined forces to investigate what happens when you have a word on the tip of your tongue but can’t quite get it out.

The study concludes that older people who are physically fit experience this less frequently.

“Endurance seems to help the brain find solutions when it starts to decline with age. Being physically fit acts as a kind of reserve that enables us to still find the words we’re looking for,” says Linda Wheeldon.

She is a professor of linguistics at the University of Agder.

Tested on a treadmill and in an MRI scanner

The researchers tested 73 people between the ages of 60 and 81.

They underwent fitness tests on a treadmill, during which the researchers measured oxygen uptake, heart rate, and lactic acid levels as the resistance was gradually increased.

Portrait photo of woman — “Fitness training does not guarantee that you will never forget words. But those who exercised and improved their fitness also increased their ability to avoid ‘word-on-the-tip-of-the-tongue’ situations more often,” says Professor Katrien Segaert.

At the same time, MRI scans of the brain were taken. The MRI scans were also performed whilst the participants were trying to recall specific words.

“For the first time, we have combined intensive fitness training for older adults with measurements of brain activity whilst they exercise. The measurements show that those who are in good physical shape have fewer moments where they struggle to find the right word,” says Katrien Segaert.

She is a professor of neuroscience at the University of Birmingham.

Recognising unusual words and names

To trigger those typical tip-of-the-tongue moments, participants were given descriptions of unusual words and names they were supposed to recognise.

Here are some of the descriptions they were given:

A stand for holding a canvas steady whilst painting – easel
The ancient Roman city that was frozen in time during the eruption of Vesuvius – Pompeii
The surname of the founder of Microsoft – Gates

Two steps to finding the right word

According to Wheeldon, the process of retrieving a word is a two-step process.

First, the meaning you wish to express is activated. This brings a number of related words to mind at the same time. If you think of the word ‘cat,’ then ‘kitten,’ ‘dog,’ and ‘pet’ are also activated.

Next, the sound form is retrieved so that the word can be pronounced. It's in this second step that many older people struggle.

“Our study shows that good physical fitness can compensate for some of the decline in word-finding ability that often comes with age,” says Wheeldon.

No guarantee – but a strong case for putting on your running shoes

The researchers’ measurements of brain structure, blood flow, and physical fitness show how good stamina is linked to good brain function and memory in healthy older people.

“Fitness training does not guarantee that you will never forget words. But those who exercised and improved their fitness also increased their ability to avoid tip-of-the-tongue situations more often,” says Segaert.

The study is an interdisciplinary collaboration in which linguists designed the language tests, neuroscientists conducted the MRI scans, and sports scientists collected data on physical fitness.

“The findings provide a concrete picture of why some older people fare better than others when it comes to remembering and communicating, and are a strong argument for keeping fit,” says Wheeldon.

Reference:

Rahman et al. Explaining tip-of-the-tongue experiences in older adults: The role of brain-based and cardiorespiratory fitness factors, Neurobiology of Aging, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.06.008

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Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no