Interestingly, pandemic-related stress decreased with age. Maybe not surprising, but middle-aged adults were STRESSED! And pandemic-related stress related to more general measures of anxiety & depression (HADS), and was lower in those who exercised more.

So during a time of heightened stress, those who moved more self-reported better sleep. They also showed better working memory, self-reported fewer memory errors in everyday life, and better overall mental health. Bottom line: get moving!