According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly 4.5 million people have Alzheimer's disease. They expect the number to rise to approximately 16 million people by 2050. Alzheimer's disease occurs in older adults and causes memory loss, confusion and eventually death. Now research is suggesting that exercise may slow down the onset and progression of Alzheimer's.
In a recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers kept track of more than 1,700 men and women over age 65 with no signs of dementia or cognitive problems, for six years. During that time, they found that 158 participants developed dementia-related problems, including Alzheimer's. However, seniors who did as little as 15 minutes of exercise daily (such as a brisk walk), three days a week or more, lowered their risk of developing Alzheimer's and other types of dementia by about 30 percent.
"These results suggest that regular exercise is associated with a delay in onset of dementia and Alzheimer disease, further supporting its value for elderly persons," the study authors conclude.
Another study found that exercise can reduce the cellular aging in the brain. Excess plaque and beta amyloid peptide protein buildup in the brain is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia, University of California, Irvine, put genetically engineered mice in cages with running wheels or cages with no exercise wheels, for five months. They found significantly fewer plaques and damaging beta amyloid peptides in the brains of the mice that exercised.
"In support of existing epidemiological studies, this investigation demonstrates that exercise is a simple behavioral intervention sufficient to inhibit the normal progression of Alzheimer's disease-like neuropathology in the TgCRND8 mouse model," the study authors conclude.
REFERENCES:
1. Larson EB et al. Exercise is associated with reduced risk for incident dementia among persons 65 years of age and older. Ann Intern Med 2006 Jan 17;144(2):73-81.
2. Fackelmann K. Study finds exercise helps delay dementia. USA Today, January 16, 2006: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-01-16-study-demenita_x.htm
3. Adlard PA et al. Voluntary exercise decreases amyloid load in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci 2005 Apr 27;25(27):4217-4221.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on June 13, 2006 09:05 AM
