Aerobic Exercise May Reduce Dementia Risk

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Friday, 16 September 2011 17:32

Rochester, Minnesota, September 2011— Any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and slow the condition’s progression once it starts, reported a Mayo Clinic study published this month in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Researchers examined the role of aerobic exercise in preserving cognitive abilities and concluded it should not be overlooked as an important therapy against dementia. www.mayoclinic.com The researchers broadly defined exercise as enough aerobic physical activity to raise the heart rate and increase the body’s need for oxygen. Examples include walking, gym workouts and physical activities you can do at home, such as shoveling snow or raking leaves. Specialists culled through scientific literature on the subject of exercise and cognition, including animal studies and observational studies, reviewing over 1,600 papers, with 130 bearing directly on this issue, in their attempt to put together a balanced view of the subject. They concluded that you can make a compelling argument for exercise as a disease-modifying strategy to prevent dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and for favorably modifying these processes once they have developed. The researchers note that brain imaging studies have consistently revealed objective evidence of favorable effects of exercise on human brain integrity. Also, they note, animal research has shown that exercise generates trophic factors that improve brain functioning, plus exercise facilitates brain connections (neuroplasticity). More research is needed on the relationship between exercise and cognitive function, the study’s authors say, but they encourage exercise, in general, especially for those with or worried about cognitive issues. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.com and www.mayoclinic.org/news.   < Prev   Next >