Mild Exercise May Help Prevent Dementia
By Michael Lasalandra
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CorrespondentA growing body of evidence seems to indicate that modest exercise -- as little as a couple of times a week -- may help prevent dementia and even slow down the progress of the disease in those who already have it.“Moderate exercise, just two or three times a week, is all that is necessary,” Dr. Zaldy S. Tan, geriatrician and director of the Memory Disorders Clinic at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Gerontology Division. “The key is to tie it to something enjoyable like dancing or sports. It has to be something they can keep up.”An Italian study published last year in the journal Neurology looked at the exercise habits of 749 elderly Italians over four years. At the start, none had memory problems. By the end, 85 had been diagnosed with some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia, which is linked to low blood flow to the brain.The study found that those who exercised -- even just doing yard work or bicycling -- had a nearly one-third lower risk of getting vascular dementia. The study found no association with Alzheimer’s, which accounts for 70 percent of dementia cases.A study published this year in the Cochrane Library found that aerobic exercise not only improves cardiovascular fitness but can also increase thinking speed and concentration in older people. Researchers combined the results of 11 separate studies examining the effects of physical exercise in healthy people over 55.In each study participants were randomly divided into two groups: one completed an aerobic exercise program three times a week for between eight and 26 weeks, and the control group participated in another type of program -- strength/balance training or social activities -- or no program.In all the studies, participants in the aerobic group did better on at least one brain function test compared to the control group. The biggest improvements were seen in manual dexterity, listening skills and memory.“The majority of these studies showed measurable improvements in cognitive function in those who exercised regularly,” Dr. Tan says. “Interestingly, they also found improvements in specific mental functions, including memory, attention, cognitive speed and motor function.”Another study published last year in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society looked at the effect of exercise on patients who already had Alzheimer’s and found that those who took part in an exercise program just one hour twice a week had better performances on the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing and feeding themselves.“Their rate of functional decline seemed to have been slowed down by the exercise program,” Dr. Tan says.He says it is not a surprise that exercise would help in preventing vascular dementia as well as slow the progression of Alzheimer’s since these conditions tend to overlap in most patients. “Many patients who have Alzheimer’s disease will also have changes in their brain consistent with vascular dementia, and vice versa,” says Dr. Tan.Just why exercise would help is unknown, but Dr. Tan says animal studies have shown that exercise changes synapses in the brain -- the places where nerve cells connect -- making the flow of information more efficient. “Exercise seems to induce growth factors in the brain that cause a downstream effect in changing the function and structure of nerve cells,” he says.Exercise may also reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, molecules associated with inflammation and aging, he notes.Another factor that might contribute to the beneficial effect of regular physical activity on the brain is its ability to reduce the risks of other diseases including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and in helping to fight depression.While it is possible that future studies could disprove the link between exercise and preventing or slowing down dementia, Dr. Tan notes that moderate exercise is good for so many other things that there is no reason not to try it.“I never hesitate to recommend it,” he says. However, he stresses that people should be cleared by their personal physicians before starting any exercise program.Above content provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CorrespondentA growing body of evidence seems to indicate that modest exercise -- as little as a couple of times a week -- may help prevent dementia and even slow down the progress of the disease in those who already have it.“Moderate exercise, just two or three times a week, is all that is necessary,” Dr. Zaldy S. Tan, geriatrician and director of the Memory Disorders Clinic at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Gerontology Division. “The key is to tie it to something enjoyable like dancing or sports. It has to be something they can keep up.”An Italian study published last year in the journal Neurology looked at the exercise habits of 749 elderly Italians over four years. At the start, none had memory problems. By the end, 85 had been diagnosed with some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia, which is linked to low blood flow to the brain.The study found that those who exercised -- even just doing yard work or bicycling -- had a nearly one-third lower risk of getting vascular dementia. The study found no association with Alzheimer’s, which accounts for 70 percent of dementia cases.A study published this year in the Cochrane Library found that aerobic exercise not only improves cardiovascular fitness but can also increase thinking speed and concentration in older people. Researchers combined the results of 11 separate studies examining the effects of physical exercise in healthy people over 55.In each study participants were randomly divided into two groups: one completed an aerobic exercise program three times a week for between eight and 26 weeks, and the control group participated in another type of program -- strength/balance training or social activities -- or no program.In all the studies, participants in the aerobic group did better on at least one brain function test compared to the control group. The biggest improvements were seen in manual dexterity, listening skills and memory.“The majority of these studies showed measurable improvements in cognitive function in those who exercised regularly,” Dr. Tan says. “Interestingly, they also found improvements in specific mental functions, including memory, attention, cognitive speed and motor function.”Another study published last year in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society looked at the effect of exercise on patients who already had Alzheimer’s and found that those who took part in an exercise program just one hour twice a week had better performances on the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing and feeding themselves.“Their rate of functional decline seemed to have been slowed down by the exercise program,” Dr. Tan says.He says it is not a surprise that exercise would help in preventing vascular dementia as well as slow the progression of Alzheimer’s since these conditions tend to overlap in most patients. “Many patients who have Alzheimer’s disease will also have changes in their brain consistent with vascular dementia, and vice versa,” says Dr. Tan.Just why exercise would help is unknown, but Dr. Tan says animal studies have shown that exercise changes synapses in the brain -- the places where nerve cells connect -- making the flow of information more efficient. “Exercise seems to induce growth factors in the brain that cause a downstream effect in changing the function and structure of nerve cells,” he says.Exercise may also reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, molecules associated with inflammation and aging, he notes.Another factor that might contribute to the beneficial effect of regular physical activity on the brain is its ability to reduce the risks of other diseases including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and in helping to fight depression.While it is possible that future studies could disprove the link between exercise and preventing or slowing down dementia, Dr. Tan notes that moderate exercise is good for so many other things that there is no reason not to try it.“I never hesitate to recommend it,” he says. However, he stresses that people should be cleared by their personal physicians before starting any exercise program.Above content provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
