We all know that exercising is good for our bodies. But did you know it can also help our brains? Scientists in Brazil have found that a certain type of exercise can help stop Alzheimer’s disease.
This disease makes people forget things and can change how they act.
This new research comes from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and the University of São Paulo (USP). It was published in a scientific journal called Frontiers in Neuroscience.
The Goodness of Resistance Training
Not all exercises are the same. When most scientists study Alzheimer’s and exercise, they look at things like running.
But not all older people or people with dementia can run for a long time. This is where resistance training comes in.
Resistance training is a kind of exercise where you use your muscles against some force. This could be lifting weights or doing push-ups.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it’s the best exercise for keeping your balance, standing up straight, and not falling over.
It helps your muscles grow and get stronger. It makes your bones denser. It changes your body for the better. And it helps you do everyday tasks easier.
How They Studied It
The researchers studied mice that were changed to have a kind of protein build up in their brains. This protein is called beta-amyloid, and it can damage brain cells. This is a sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
The scientists trained the mice to climb a ladder that was very steep. The mice had to carry loads that were as heavy as their own bodies. This was like the resistance training that people do at the gym.
After four weeks of training, the scientists looked at the mice’s blood and brains. They found that the mice had normal levels of a stress hormone. They also had fewer beta-amyloid plaques in their brains.
The Results of the Study
The scientists said that physical activity can undo some of the changes in the brain that cause Alzheimer’s disease. They also said that resistance training helped the mice act less anxious and more normal.
“Resistance exercise is showing itself to be a good way to stop or delay Alzheimer’s symptoms,” said Beatriz Monteiro Longo, one of the researchers.
She said this kind of exercise can help because it fights inflammation, which is a kind of swelling in the body.
What the Research Means for Us
The scientists also looked at other research about resistance training and Alzheimer’s.
They found that this type of exercise can help with memory problems and behavior issues in people with Alzheimer’s. It can be a cheap and helpful treatment.
Other researchers from Brazil also helped with the study. They said that Alzheimer’s affects not just the patient, but the whole family. This is especially true for families without a lot of money.
“These findings can help create new public policies,” said Caroline Vieira Azevedo, a graduate student who worked on the study.
“Imagine how much money we could save if we could delay Alzheimer’s symptoms by ten years.”
In conclusion, resistance training is not just about flexing our muscles. It’s also about flexing the power of our brains. By exercising, we can keep our bodies and minds healthy, even as we grow older.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
The study was published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
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