Importance of exercise for Alzheimer's gene carriers

January, 2011

A small study suggests that physical activity may be of greater benefit to those carrying the Alzheimer’s gene in protecting against cognitive decline.

A study involving 68 healthy older adults (65-85) has compared brain activity among four groups, determined whether or not they carry the Alzheimer’s gene ApoE4 and whether their physical activity is reported to be high or low. The participants performed a task involving the discrimination of famous people, which engages 15 different functional regions of the brain. Among those carrying the gene, those with higher physical activity showed greater activation in many regions than those who were sedentary. Moreover, physically active people with the gene had greater brain activity than physically active people without the gene.

And adding to the evidence supporting the potential for exercise to lower the risk of dementia, another recent study has found that after ten years exercise (in terms of the number of different types of exercises performed and number of exercise sessions lasting at least 20 minutes) was inversely associated with the onset of cognitive impairment. The study used data from the National Long Term Care Survey.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/uow--ssi111810.php

Reference:

[2037] Smith, J. Carson, Nielson K. A., Woodard J. L., Seidenberg M., Durgerian S., Antuono P., et al.
(2011). Interactive effects of physical activity and APOE-[epsilon]4 on BOLD semantic memory activation in healthy elders.
NeuroImage. 54(1), 635 - 644.

[1986] Jedrziewski, K. M., Ewbank D. C., Wang H., & Trojanowski J. Q.
(2010). Exercise and cognition: Results from the National Long Term Care Survey.
Alzheimer's and Dementia. 6(6), 448 - 455.

seniors

Exercise

genes

Alzheimers

Related News

Controlling diabetes important for slowing cognitive decline

The latest finding from the large, long-running Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study adds to the evidence that preventing or controlling diabetes helps prevent age-related cognitive decline.

Benefits of omega-3 in preventing age-related cognitive decline not proven

A review of three high quality trials comparing the putative benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for preventing age-related cognitive decline, has concluded that there is no evidence that taking fish oil supplements helps fight cognitive decline.

Alzheimer's risk gene disrupts brain function in older women, but not men

While the ‘Alzheimer’s gene’ is relatively common — the ApoE4 mutation is present in around 15% of the population — having two copies of the mutation is, thankfully, much rarer, at around 2%.

Brief questionnaire for dementia progression validated

Dementia is a progressive illness, and its behavioral and psychological symptoms are, for caregivers, the most difficult symptoms to manage.

Exercise reduces Alzheimer's damage in brain

A study designed to compare the relative benefits of exercise and diet control on Alzheimer’s pathology and cognitive performance has revealed that while both are beneficial, exercise is of greater benefit in reducing Alzheimer’s pathology and cognitive impairment.

Rapamycin makes young mice learn better and prevents decline in old mice

I have reported previously on research suggesting that rapamycin, a bacterial product first isolated from soil on Easter Island and used to help transplant patients prevent organ rejection, might improve learning and memory.

Coffee helps prevent progression to dementia

Following on from mouse studies, a human study has investigated whether caffeine can help prevent older adults with mild cognitive impairment from progressing to dementia.

Alzheimer’s biomarkers present decades before symptoms

A study involving those with a strong genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s has found that the first signs of the disease can be detected 25 years before symptoms are evident.

Immune system may protect against Alzheimer's

A number of studies have come out in recent years linking age-related cognitive decline and dementia risk to inflammation and infection (put inflammation into the “Search this site” box at the top of the page and you’ll see what I mean). New research suggests one important mechanism.

Effect of blood pressure on the aging brain depends on genetics

I’ve reported before on the evidence suggesting that carriers of the ‘Alzheimer’s gene’, APOE4, tend to have smaller brain volumes and perform worse on cognitive tests, despite being cognitively ‘normal’.

Pages