Can Simple Workouts Help Fight Alzheimer's Disease? Study Finds Out - Video

A new study has found that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise could be valuable tools in the fight against Alzheimer's. The new research is published as two papers in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

EXERT (Exercise in Adults with Mild Memory Problems) included nearly 300 sedentary older adults with mild cognitive impairment who were randomly assigned to either moderate-high intensity aerobic training or lower-intensity stretching, balance and range of motion activities. Participants completed their assigned exercise 3-4 times per week for 12 months under the supervision of a YMCA trainer, and the study also included regular assessments of cognitive function and

brain volume.

The researchers found:

In EXERT study participants, cognitive function remained stable over 12 months in both low and moderate-high intensity exercise groups.

Both forms of exercise were associated with significantly less cognitive decline over 12 months when compared to individuals who were not involved in the exercise study.

Both EXERT exercise groups tended to show less brain volume loss over 12 months, including in the prefrontal cortex.

Though the researchers expected to see further cognitive decline in EXERT participants, they actually found that cognitive function remained stable for both exercise groups over the course of the study. This suggests that both lower and higher intensity exercise could slow cognitive decline. Another possible explanation for the results is that participating in research itself, regardless of the treatment, may offer protection against cognitive decline due to the intellectual and social stimulation involved.

Overall, the findings of both studies taken together suggest that exercise may be a promising, safe, and feasible strategy to promote brain health and prevent continued cognitive decline for older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

"This is a critical time to intervene in this population, because they don't have dementia yet, but are at a very high risk," said Aladdin Shadyab, Ph.D., M.P.H., lead author of one of the new papers and associate professor at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and School of Medicine. "Together, these findings show us that even low intensity exercise may slow cognitive decline in at-risk older adults."

Reference: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/even-light-exercise-could-help-slow-cognitive-decline-in-people-at-risk-of-alzheimers