Researchers from the University of California San Diego and Wake Forest University have found that regular exercise, even at low intensity, may help older adults with memory problems slow down cognitive decline.
Their study, known as EXERT, followed nearly 300 older adults who had amnestic mild cognitive impairment, a condition that often leads to Alzheimer’s disease. This condition causes memory problems that are more serious than normal aging but not yet severe enough to be classified as dementia.
The EXERT study included participants who were not physically active before joining. They were randomly placed into two groups. One group did moderate to high-intensity aerobic exercise, like using a treadmill or bike.
The other group did light stretching, balance, and movement exercises. Both groups exercised three to four times a week for a year with the help of YMCA trainers. Their memory and thinking skills were tested regularly during the study.
The researchers found that participants in both exercise groups did not experience the memory decline that usually happens in people with this condition. In fact, their cognitive abilities stayed about the same over the 12 months.
This is important because about 16% of people with mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s each year. The fact that memory stayed stable is a hopeful sign.
When compared to another group of similar people who did not exercise and only received regular medical care, the exercising participants did much better. Those who didn’t exercise showed more memory and thinking problems over time.
In addition, brain scans showed that the people who exercised lost less brain volume, especially in areas like the prefrontal cortex, which is important for decision-making and memory.
Dr. Aladdin Shadyab, one of the study’s lead authors and a professor at UC San Diego, said this is an important time to step in and help, before the memory problems become worse. He pointed out that even gentle exercises can make a difference.
This study is one of the most thorough trials ever done to understand how exercise affects people at risk for Alzheimer’s. It also shows how community programs, like those at the YMCA, can support people to stay active in a convenient and supervised way.
Dr. Howard Feldman, who leads the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study at UC San Diego, said this kind of program brings research closer to where people live and makes it easier to use in real life.
Dr. Laura Baker, the lead researcher from Wake Forest University, called EXERT a landmark study. She emphasized that exercise has benefits for the whole body, and this research adds strong evidence that it also helps the brain.
The team expected that memory problems would get worse over time, but they were surprised to find that participants in both exercise groups stayed stable.
It’s also possible that just being part of a study, with regular contact and mental stimulation, helped people keep their minds sharp. Still, the researchers believe that exercise was a key factor in the positive results.
Overall, the study shows that regular exercise—whether light or more intense—can be a simple, safe, and helpful way to protect brain health in older adults who are at risk for Alzheimer’s. This is good news for aging populations everywhere, as it offers a low-cost and easy-to-access method to support memory and thinking as people grow older.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about the protective power of dietary antioxidants against Alzheimer’s, and eating habits linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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