It is known fact that high sodium intake has negative impact on cardiovascular health and that has led to salt-reduction strategies.  A study examined the effects of sodium intake on cognitive function in older people who were physically inactive.

  Team@CMHF

Cutting back on sodium might help older adults maintain their cognitive function, particularly in those who aren’t physically active.
In a study of older adults with normal cognitive function at the outset, researchers found that a high intake of sodium combined with low levels of physical activity was associated with a decline in global cognitive function over 3 years.

Higher sodium intake is potentially injurious to the (aging) brain, and physical activity is protective. The effects of physical activity seem to win out, so that habitual, moderate exercise may essentially ‘immunize’ the brain against adverse effects of higher sodium intake. However, the combination of more physical activity and less sodium is clearly better than either alone — and far better than neither.

The study results suggest that it is important to focus on multiple lifestyle domains, such as exercise and diet, instead of singling out one factor when creating health-promotion strategies in the clinic.

Reference: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/749178?src=mpnews&spon=34