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According to a study released at the 2008
International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, patients diagnosed with early
Alzheimer’s disease who exercised regularly saw less deterioration in areas of
the brain that control memory.
Mild Alzheimer’s disease patients with
higher physical fitness had larger brains compared to those with lower physical
fitness, according to a study published in the July issue of Neurology.
In the study, 121 people age 60 and older
underwent fitness tests using a treadmill as well as brain scans to measure the
white matter, gray matter and total volume of their brains.
Of the group, 57 were in the early stages of
Alzheimer’s disease while the rest of the group did not have dementia.
Study author Jeffrey M. Burns, MD, of the
University of Kansas School of Medicine commented, “People with early
Alzheimer’s disease who were less physically fit had four times more brain
shrinkage when compared to those who were more physically fit. This suggests
less brain shrinkage related to the Alzheimer’s disease process in those with
higher fitness levels.”
It is noteworthy that the results of this
study remained the same regardless of age, gender and severity of dementia,
physical activity and frailty.
“People with early Alzheimer’s disease may
be able to preserve their brain function for a longer period of time by
exercising regularly and potentially reducing the amount of brain volume lost.
Evidence shows decreasing brain volume is tied to poorer cognitive performance,
so preserving more brain volume may translate into better cognitive
performance,” Burns said.
“This is one of the first studies to explore
the relationship between Alzheimer’s and exercise (cardio respiratory fitness),”
said Burns. Other studies show that people who walk regularly show significant
improvement in memory skills, learning ability, reasoning and concentration.
Stroke risk was cut by a whopping 57 percent
in people who walked as little as 20 minutes per day. In the higher energy
groups they showed up to 40 percent less cognitive decline.
Does your “forgetter” outwit your memory? Worried about Alzheimer’s and want to learn how to avoid it? Since a
heart surgeon sawed open Gene Millen’s chest in 1990 and stitched in bypasses
to six clogged arteries, Gene has devoted his life to coaching others on how to
keep their heart and brain in tip-top shape. Millen explains how brain exercise
and a brain fitness program can revitalize your memory. Website:
http://www.brainbequick.com/