Improving fitness may counteract brain atrophy in older adults, including those with MCI

A small study involving physically inactive older adults found that a three-month exercise program reversed some brain atrophy.

A study involving 30 previously physically inactive older adults (aged 61-88) found that a three-month exercise program reversed some brain atrophy.

Participants included 14 with MCI. The exercise program included moderate intensity walking on a treadmill four times a week over a twelve-week period. On average, cardiorespiratory fitness improved by about 8% as a result of the training in both the healthy and MCI participants. Fitness was assessed using peak oxygen capacity rates.

Those who showed the greatest improvements in fitness had the most growth in cortical thickness. Those with MCI showed greater improvements compared to healthy group in the left insula and superior temporal gyrus, two brain regions that have been shown to exhibit accelerated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/uom-ifm111915.php

Reference:

Reiter, K., Nielson, K. A., Smith, T. J., Weiss, L. R., Alfini, A. J., & Smith, J. C. (2015). Improved Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated with Increased Cortical Thickness in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 21(Special Issue 10), 757–767. https://doi.org/10.1017/S135561771500079X

seniors

Exercise

Lifestyle

Related News

Mentally challenging activities key to a healthy aging mind

A study involving 39 older adults has found that those randomly assigned to a “high-challenge” group showed improved cognitive performance and more efficient brain activity compared with those assigned to a low-challenge group, or a control group.

Some cognitive training helps less-educated older adults more

Data from 2,800 participants (aged 65+) in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study has revealed that one type of cognitive training benefits less-educated people more than it does the more-educated.

Omega 3 levels affect whether B vitamins can slow brain's decline

A study involving 266 people with mild cognitive impairment (aged 70+) has found that B vitamins are more effective in slowing cognitive decline when people have higher omega 3 levels.

Some chronic viral infections could contribute to age-related cognitive decline

Growing research has implicated infections as a factor in age-related cognitive decline, but these have been cross-sectional (comparing different individuals, who will have a number of other, possibly confounding, attributes).

Mediterranean diet reduces brain shrinkage in old age

Another study adds to the growing evidence that a Mediterranean diet is good for the aging brain.

Alzheimer's disease consists of 3 distinct subtypes

A two-year study which involved metabolic testing of 50 people, suggests that Alzheimer's disease consists of three distinct subtypes, each one of which may need to be treated differently. The finding may help explain why it has been so hard to find effective treatments for the disease.

More evidence that stress increases risk of Alzheimer's

A study involving both mice and human cells adds to evidence that stress is a risk factor for Alzheimer's.

Stroke speeds age-related cognitive decline

Data from 23,572 Americans from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study has revealed that those who survived a stroke went on to have significantly faster rates of cognitive decline as they aged.

Low vitamin D speeds age-related cognitive decline

A study involving 382 older adults (average age 75) followed for around five years, has found that those who don’t get enough vitamin D may experience cognitive decline at a much faster rate than people who have adequate vitamin D.

Mental imagery training improves multiple sclerosis patients' cognition

Training in a mental imagery technique has been found to help multiple sclerosis patients in two memory domains often affected by the disease: autobiographical memory and episodic future thinking.

Pages