The loss of memory in the elderly could be reduced with exercise
March 29th, 2011
An exciting new study is the first to analyze the effects of exercise on age-related changes of the brain linked to memory loss among the elderly, finding that moderately intense aerobic exercise could slow (or even reverse) the loss of shared memory in old age. Imagine that … Not only does exercise help your body stay healthy … but your mind will be sharper, too.
A number of previous studies have shown that exercise to be one of the few things that could improve our cognitive functions such as age, this latest book is really the first to measure the size of the brain.
Moderately intense activity seemed to increase the hippocampus, the brain area used to form memories.
With age, the hippocampus shrinks a bit ‘each year that focuses on memory disorders. According to the survey, a year of moderate exercise can increase the density of the hippocampus of 2%, reversing the withdrawal associated with age of one year or two.
To work, the researchers placed at random in 120 healthy, sedentary adults though (55-80 years) to one of two groups with trained facilitators.
A group of people walked around the construction of the track up to 40 minutes three times a week. The group mate stretching and toning exercises that included weight training and yoga. Brain scans were taken when the study began and again 12 months later.
Both groups showed improvements in a test of spatial memory. This is the kind of memory that can recall the guidelines or where you left your keys. The difference between groups was visible on MRI, the hippocampus was almost 2% higher than when the subject began.
In fact, the right side of the hippocampus increased in volume by 2.12% and 1.97% for the left that are aerobic exercise. These regions became smaller (from 1.40% to 1.43% left and right) in people who are stretching routine. And while the numbers may not seem like much in this region of the brain, such changes are considered significant.
The team also found markers of brain health, such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is increased in size with the growth in the hippocampus.
Doctors believe that the decrease in the hippocampus with aging as inevitable, but researchers said this study showed that even a small amount of regular exercise in the course of 12 months can have a positive effect of the size of an important sector the brain. The brain can still be changed.
Imagine … moderate exercise (low-tech, low cost) such as walking can actually help people to reverse the brain health … of two years. We know that even in old age, the hippocampus continues to grow new neurons, and recent research results to prove the theory that exercise can promote neurogenesis.
For a healthy person of age, is really great news. We learn that aging is not a one way street going the wrong way, but rather a time of change and improvement can be done to reduce the impact of memory loss in older people.
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