In a study from Wake Forest School of Medicine, scientists found for older people at risk of dementia, regular exercise from light stretching to rigorous aerobics can help slow memory and thinking decline.
The findings are from a late-stage trial measuring exercise as a potential remedy for people with mild cognitive decline.
It may be a new way to attack a neurodegenerative disease that for decades has stymied researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
In the study, the team recruited 296 people with memory problems who lived sedentary lifestyles and assigned them to two groups.
One group regularly engaged in moderate to high-intensity aerobic exercise while a second group did less rigorous exercises.
All participants had mild cognitive impairment, which is when memory and thinking worsen beyond normal aging but not enough to be diagnosed with dementia.
Participants exercised four days each week for 30 minutes or more. They were evaluated using a cognitive test store at the beginning of the study, at six months, and at 12 months.
The team expected the more rigorous aerobic group would perform better, but the test scores showed both groups maintained similar levels over the year.
The team says sedentary adults at risk of dementia can prevent or slow cognitive decline if they exercise regularly with supervised support.
Having someone to help older adults exercise—or just provide social interaction—is critically important.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about why some older people less likely to have Alzheimer’s disease, and this daily habit could help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about common food that may reduce vascular disease in the brain, and results showing scientists find strong link between COVID and this brain disease.
The study was conducted by Laura Baker et al and published in…
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
