- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
- Two new studies have found that low and moderate-high-intensity exercise was correlated with significantly less cognitive decline over 12 months compared to older adults who did not exercise.
- Researchers also found that participants in both exercise groups tended to show less brain volume loss over 12 months, including in the prefrontal cortex.
Researchers estimate that almost 20% of adults ages 50 and over around the world live with
Although not all people with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, between 10-15% of people with MCI do go on to develop dementia.
“Rate of memory loss over time is not the same for individuals who are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” Laura Baker, PhD, professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina told Medical News Today.
“Health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, can accelerate [the] rate of cognitive decline, and lifestyle factors such as physical exercise, healthy diet, and regular social engagement can slow progression. Although we do not yet know how to ‘cure’ Alzheimer’s disease, we are learning how to slow progression of memory decline so that affected individuals may have extended quality life experiences,” said Baker.
Baker is the principal investigator of the
Two new studies based on data from the EXERT study were recently published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
These studies found that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise was correlated with significantly less cognitive decline over 12 months compared to older adults who did not exercise.
Additionally, researchers found that participants in both exercise groups tended to show less brain volume loss over 12 months, including in the prefrontal cortex.
For both of these studies, researchers focused on a type of MCI called amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).
“Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a condition that describes a transitional state between normal cognition and significant cognitive impairment (dementia), which affects everyday function,” Baker explained. “The hallmark symptom of aMCI includes mild memory loss (relates to ‘amnestic’) that causes challenges for the individual on a day-to-day basis.”
“Casual acquaintances or more distant family members may not notice the memory loss, as the individual with aMCI is typically still able to go about the day’s business — working, cooking, errands, driving, etc.,” she continued. “The memory loss of those with aMCI may be ‘under the radar’ to most individuals, which can be a problem if this is the time when interventions could be most effective — before dementia develops.”
“Individuals with aMCI often do not come to the attention of health care providers and therefore are frequently not referred for preventive interventions until the signs of early dementia emerge,” Baker added. “EXERT recruited individuals who were ‘under the radar’ to test the efficacy of a promising intervention to slow memory loss.”
The
Researchers found that participants’ cognitive levels remained stable for 12 months regardless of which type of exercise participants adhered to.
In the
“Regular high or low intensity exercise may protect against cognitive decline in adults with mild cognitive impairment and thus at risk for dementia,” Baker said.
“In the past, moderate-high intensity exercise has been touted as necessary for cognitive benefit, however this level of intensity may not be attainable for all older individuals. Our findings suggest that any exercise, if completed regularly (three to four times per week for about 30-45 minutes) may be beneficial for brain health,” she said.
The researchers also found that participants in both EXERT exercise groups tended to show less brain volume loss over 12 months.
“In EXERT, our finding that participants tend to show less brain volume loss over 12 months suggests that the intervention may protect against cell loss in the prefrontal region, which may help to protect the cognitive abilities that this region supports, against decline,” Aladdin Shadyab, PhD, MPH, associate professor at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and School of Medicine and lead author of the
“The prefrontal cortex is an area of the brain that plays a proportionately larger role in cognitive abilities that allow us to pay attention, multi-task, plan, and organize,” Baker explained.
How the brain changes with age“We all lose brain cells as we age. Cell loss directly affects total volume of brain tissue. Rate of brain cell (and volume) loss though, differs from one person to the next. Older adults with a memory impairment that worsens over time generally have faster rates of brain volume loss.”
— Aladdin Shadyab, PhD, MPH
MNT spoke with Lycia Neumann, PhD, MPA, senior director of health services research for the Alzheimer’s Association, about these studies.
“Scientifically sound studies like these add to our understanding and knowledge of the connection between physical activity and brain health,” Neumann explained. “As a general rule, what is good for your heart is also good for your brain — but we continue to need the research to support that. These new studies are helping with evidence of how this connection may work.”
“As the population ages, we must remember that lifestyle/behavioral factors can help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and possibly dementia, even when a person has a genetic risk factor. This would be considering improving exercise, eating healthy, protecting your brain, and more — though, as yet, we do not have an exact ‘recipe.’ In fact, it may need to be slightly different for each person. Until there is more definitive data available, the Alzheimer’s Association offers general guidance in the form of 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain.”
— Lycia Neumann, PhD, MPA
MNT asked Clifford Segil, DO, neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, for his top tips on how to construct an exercise plan that can help keep your brain Healthy and potentially lower dementia risk.
“Good brain health involves exercising daily. I share with my patients to leave their homes at least twice daily at 10:00 am and then 2:00 pm and at least walk around the block or do some exercise. Exercise increases blood flow throughout your body and to your brain. The increased blood flow to the brain may decrease one form of dementia called vascular or multi-infarct dementia more than Alzheimer’s dementia.”
— Clifford Segil, DO
“Exercising while aging will improve your cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, decreasing your risk of developing memory loss from dementia. I advise my elderly patients structure and continued learning (which) I find to be the most protective activities for memory loss, and I advise my patient to take classes at a local college to keep their brain healthy as they age,” Segil said.
