Alzheimer's: Exercising in middle age may reduce beta-amyloid in brain

Evan Walker
Evan Walker TheMediTary.Com |
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Scientists have found an association between physical activity levels in middle age and Alzheimer’s disease risk. Rob and Julia Campbell/Stocksy
  • Past studies have linked physical activity with a decreased risk for many health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
  • A new study found that increased physical activity levels during middle age are associated with reduced amounts of the Alzheimer’s disease biomarker beta-amyloid in the brain.
  • Researchers also discovered that being inactive during this time was linked to atrophy in brain regions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

It is well known that exercising regularly is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

More and more studies correlate physical activity with a decreased risk for many health issues, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, a new study recently published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, adds to our knowledge about physical activity and its impact on brain health.

Researchers have found that increasing physical activity levels during middle age — ages 45 to 65 — is associated with lower concentrations of the protein beta-amyloid — a known biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease — in the brain.

Study participants were asked to record their physical activity via questionnaires at baseline and at their follow-up visit around four years later. The researchers also analysed data from brain scans acquired after the follow-up visit to look for correlations between participants’ exercise levels and Alzheimer’s-related pathologies in their brains.

Study participants were classified into five different groups based on their adherence to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended activity levels:

  • Group 1 remained sedentary
  • Group 2 exercised, but not enough to adhere to the WHO guidelines
  • Group 3 reached and maintained the WHO guidelines
  • Group 4 started at the WHO guidelines, but then became non-adherent
  • Group 5 started non-adherent and then hit the WHO guidelines

Upon analysis, researchers found that participants who increased their physical activity to meet WHO-recommended levels had lower amounts of the protein beta-amyloid in the brain than those who remained sedentary or reduced their physical activity.

“Pathological accumulation of beta-amyloid is considered one of the earliest events in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, triggering a cascade of neurodegenerative processes that ultimately lead to cognitive decline and dementia,” Arenaza-Urquijo said.

“Our findings suggest that adopting a more active lifestyle in midlife — especially for individuals who were previously inactive — may play a protective role by slowing or potentially preventing the buildup of this hallmark Alzheimer’s pathology.”
— Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, PhD

MNT also had the opportunity to speak with Daniel H. Daneshvar, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Brain Injury Rehabilitation, and vice president of medical staff for Spaulding Rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham in Massachusetts, about this study.

“We have strong existing evidence that physical activity supports cardiovascular, metabolic, and brain health, and this study strengthens the link between increased physical activity during middle age and reduced Alzheimer’s disease risk,” Daneshvar commented.

“What’s especially important to recognize is that Health interventions like exercise may not only reduce underlying pathology, but also can significantly delay or even prevent the clinical symptoms from ever emerging. This study supports the need to embed exercise and brain-Healthy behaviors as a central part of preventive care strategies starting in middle age.”
— Daniel H. Daneshvar, MD, PhD

For readers who wish to increase their exercise during middle age to potentially lower their Alzheimer’s disease risk, MNT asked Daneshvar for his top tips on figuring out which types of exercise would be best — are specific types of activities more helpful than others?

“The best type of exercise is the one that you’ll actually do — consistently,” he responded. “Both aerobic exercise (like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming), and resistance training (like lifting weights or using resistance bands), have shown benefits for brain health.”

“Ideally, a combination of the two is best because aerobic exercise supports cardiovascular Health while strength training helps preserve muscle mass and metabolic function, which also impact brain Health,” Daneshvar added. “Even small amounts of regular activity can make a difference, so the goal should be to move more throughout the week, starting with realistic and enjoyable activities that fit into daily life.”

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