New research from the University of California San Diego and Wake Forest University shows that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise can help protect memory and thinking skills in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings, from the EXERT study, were published in two papers in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
The EXERT study focused on older adults who were sedentary and had amnestic mild cognitive impairment, a condition marked by memory problems that often leads to Alzheimer’s dementia.
About 16% of people with this condition go on to develop Alzheimer’s each year. Since this is a critical time to intervene, researchers wanted to find out if exercise could make a difference.
Nearly 300 participants were randomly placed into one of two groups. One group did moderate-high intensity aerobic exercise, while the other group did low-intensity activities like stretching, balancing, and range-of-motion exercises.
Participants exercised three to four times a week for 12 months, working with trainers at their local YMCA. Their thinking skills and brain health were regularly checked throughout the study.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that cognitive function stayed stable over the year for both exercise groups. This was important because they had expected to see a natural decline over time.
When compared to a group of similar people who did not participate in the exercise program and only received their usual medical care, the EXERT participants showed much less cognitive decline.
Brain scans also revealed that people who exercised, even at low intensity, tended to lose less brain volume over the 12 months. This was particularly true in the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that plays a key role in memory, attention, and decision-making.
Dr. Aladdin Shadyab, one of the lead researchers, said that even low-intensity exercise may be enough to slow down memory problems in older adults. He called it a very encouraging finding, especially because low-intensity activities are safer and more accessible for many seniors.
The EXERT study was coordinated by the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study at UC San Diego, a group formed in partnership with the National Institute on Aging to focus on finding ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the unique things about EXERT was that it partnered with local YMCAs to make it easier for participants to stick to the exercise program. Dr. Howard Feldman, who leads the Cooperative Study, said this community-based approach brings researchers closer to finding real-world solutions that can be put into everyday practice.
Previous studies suggested that exercise might help memory, but results were often mixed. EXERT stands out because it was one of the largest and most carefully controlled exercise trials ever done in adults with memory problems.
Dr. Laura Baker, principal investigator of EXERT, emphasized that while exercise is already known to benefit overall health, we are still discovering just how powerful it can be for brain health too.
Another interesting point the researchers raised is that being part of a study might help participants simply by providing social and mental stimulation. However, the consistent results across both exercise groups make a strong case that physical activity itself is playing an important role.
Overall, the results suggest that regular exercise—even activities as gentle as stretching—can be a safe, practical, and effective way to slow cognitive decline in people at risk for Alzheimer’s. While more research is needed, this study gives hope that adopting an active lifestyle could help protect memory and thinking skills as we age.
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 research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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