Scientists Probe Physical Exercise and Alzheimer's Disease Progression

Can Physical Exercise Decreases Alzheimer's Disease Progression?

It has long been known that physical exercise is a pro-active way to maintain health, but recent studies have indicated that exercise has a health benefit for elderly people that may be plagued with Alzheimer's disease. In spite of the fact that Alzheimer's disease has no known cure, it has been suggested by researchers that physical exercise decreases Alzheimer's progression.

Physical exercise appears to reduce the development of Alzheimer's disease according to a recent study released by the Journal of Neurology. The study conducted showed that elderly people who were more sedentary showed four times more indications of brain shrinkage than those who were physically active.

The ramifications of the study were in line with various studies, which discovered that exercising cuts the chances of developing dementia, a chronic disorder or injury of the brain, which can lead to memory disorders. In the study conducted by the Journal of Neurology, one hundred and twenty-one seniors were asked to exercise on treadmills and then their peak oxygen consumption levels were documented. This was done because the peak oxygen level is often used as a benchmark to measure cardio respiratory fitness.

The debate exists and at issue is the possibility that there is a connection amid low cardio respiratory fitness levels and Alzheimer's disease such that an underlying state of health favors both conditions. Researchers probed the possibility that greater brain volumes in people with more cardio strength may not possibly be directly linked to exercising. There is also the chance that Alzheimer's itself causes lower cardio respiratory fitness.

The Human Brain - A Marvel

The human brain is capable of constantly adjusting and regulating itself. Indeed, also in the elderly, the human brain can gain strength by producing new neurons. Uncompromising mental descent is usually a result of disease, while beyond compare age-related losses in memory or motor skills comparatively result from inaction and a lack of mental work or stimulation. Researchers call this the "use it or lose it" theory.

Moderate Physical Exercise Impacts Alzheimer Patients

An unparalleled method of reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is via physical exercise. By kicking off and maintaining a consistent exercise program, one can actually reduce chances of developing the disease. This is difficult for many, however, because of the demands and responsibilities of modern life. For example, many people work in an office forty hours a week, manage a household, and often do not get enough sleep. The positive message from researchers is that in order to benefit mental activity, physical activity does not necessarily need to be extremely strenuous or constitute a big time commitment. The major point is that although moderate exercise can benefit mental capacity, it is necessary that it be done on a consistent basis.

By strengthening the heart, exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which increases tolerance to exercise, prunes body weight, and lowers blood pressure. In addition, exercise lowers the bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises good cholesterol (HDL) with the added benefit of increasing sensitivity to insulin, which reduces likelihood of developing a disease that could negatively affect brain function.

Research Points to Exercise and Brain Health

Moderate Alzheimer's disease patients with greater physical fitness had larger brains in comparison to those with mild Alzheimer's disease that are more sedentary, according to a research study released in the July 15, 2008 publication of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study documented brain scans of Alzheimer's disease patients after fitness exercise tests. Among the group, nearly half were in the pre-stages of Alzheimer's disease and the remaining patients did not have dementia.

The study was conducted by Jeffrey M. Burns, MD, at the University of Kansas School of Medicine who is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Burns stated that people with mild pre-Alzheimer's disease who were also less physically active had four times more shrinkage of the brain in comparison to patients who were physically active.

The consequences were the same despite the level of physical activity, the patient's age and gender or dementia severity. There was no relationship between higher fitness levels and brain changes in the group of people without dementia. Patients with a mild case of Alzheimer's may possibly be able to preserve brain health longer by maintaining a mild but consistent exercise program. Further, Dr. Burn's said, this study is one of the primary research studies to examine the complex bond between exercise and brain performance.

Dr. Burns continued by emphasizing that people should be careful when trying to unscramble the results of these studies because scientists surveyed the benchmark statistics of fitness one patient and one point at a time.

Mild Exercise Probed as a Means to Counter Dementia

What type of physical activity is recommended?

Modest physical activity, which ranges from around thirty minutes a day, is recommended. If there are any health issues or concerns, then it is highly recommended that a professional health care advocate be consulted prior to beginning any new exercise regimen.

Conclusion

Although the scientists brought to light an important relationship between Alzheimer's and exercise, a markedly important point of the results show that vascular dementia, which is the second most frequent type of the disease, were shown to have been impacted by increased yet moderate physical exercise.