24 October 2023 , 17:07
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Regular exercise - from simple stretches to rigorous aerobics - can slash the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a study shows.
The activity boosts memory recall and concentration, experts say in a report presented earlier this month at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, welcomed the findings, noting drug companies have failed for decades to slow the disease.
"There’s just more understanding of the underlying biology and what potential treatments can impact the disease, which actually includes exercise," said Ms Carrillo. Nearly 300 people with memory problems and lived sedentary lifestyles took part in the research.
A woman stretches in the gym (file image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)One group regularly exercised with moderate to high-intensity aerobics. A second group completed less rigorous stretching, balance and range-of-motion exercises. Study participants were paired with YMCA trainers.
All participants had mild cognitive impairment, which is when memory and thinking worsen beyond normal aging but not enough to be diagnosed with dementia. Participants exercised four days each week for 30 minutes or more. They were evaluated using a cognitive test store at the beginning of the study, at six months and at 12 months.
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Participants' memory and thinking scores, as measured by a cognitive test, did not slip over the 12 months. Academics expected the more rigorous aerobic group would perform better, but the test scores showed both groups maintained similar levels over the year.
Laura Baker, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine, said: "We really did expect the high-intensity group to have more protection." She added the study did not include a placebo group because researchers thought it would be unethical to withhold something potentially beneficial.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. It affects an estimated one in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in every 6 people over the age of 80. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the UK. More than 900,000 people have dementia in the UK, latest statistics showed.