Consensus that Aerobic Exercise Can Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s

This isn’t a new concept, but it bears another look as the frequency of Alzheimer’s disease continues to rise.  Mayo Clinic researchers have reviewed the evidence concerning the role of aerobic exercise in preserving cognitive function, and published their findings in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.           

The researchers used the keywords exercise and cognition to search all the scientific literature, and found 1,600 relevant papers, of which 130 handled the main question.  Meta-analyses of the prospective studies showed there was a significant reduction associated with midlife aerobic exercise in the risk of dementia, as well as in the later risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  Patients already diagnosed with dementia or MCI had better cognitive scores after 6-12 months of exercise compared with sedentary patients.  And, in general, healthy adults who did aerobic exercise had significantly improved cognitive scores.

Imaging studies also showed beneficial effects associated with aerobic exercise: larger brain hippocampal volumes, and a smaller loss of age-related gray matter.  It should be remembered that exercise also cuts the risk of small vessel disease in the cerebrovascular system, which can also cause dementia. 

For the purpose of the analyses the investigators covered not only formal aerobic exercise, but also physical exercise like brisk walking, housework, raking leaves, and shoveling snow. Anything that raises heart rate and increases the body’s need for oxygen will apparently do.  So get moving!