Aerobics: An Ally in the Fight against Alzheimer’s

Recent Findings on Exercise and Brain Health

Recent findings confirm that exercise can have a considerable impact not only on your physical health but also on your brain.

Exercise and Alzheimer’s Prevention

It’s widely recognized that intellectual activities, such as reading or playing games, help to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms in older people. But what about exercise?

A Joint Study Reveals Promising Results

A joint study recently published in the journal Brain Research suggests that this activity could play a key role in preventing and slowing down this neurodegenerative disease. Researchers from the University of Bristol and the Federal University of São Paulo focused on the hippocampus, a key region of the brain for memory and learning.

The Study’s Findings

They studied the impact of physical activity – specifically aerobic exercise – on the main markers of Alzheimer’s disease, namely amyloid plaques, tau protein tangles, and iron accumulation in cells that produce myelin, a substance that surrounds and protects nerve fibres while accelerating the transmission of electrical signals between neurons.

The Results

The scientists conducted an experiment on rats, some of which followed an aerobic exercise programme. They found that the more physically active rodents showed a 63% reduction in tau protein tangles, a 76% reduction in amyloid plaques, and a 58% drop in iron accumulation. In addition, the number of protective cells, known as oligodendrocytes, increased. Inflammatory markers were also significantly reduced, with reductions ranging from 55-68%, depending on the biomarkers analyzed.

Conclusion

Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions worldwide, with no known cure. The study’s findings provide a promising avenue for future research and potential treatment options. While it remains to be confirmed whether these results obtained with rats also apply to humans, clinical trials are underway to verify these promising effects.

FAQs

Q: What are the main markers of Alzheimer’s disease?
A: Amyloid plaques, tau protein tangles, and iron accumulation in cells that produce myelin.

Q: What was the focus of the study?
A: The study focused on the hippocampus, a key region of the brain for memory and learning.

Q: What were the results of the study?
A: The study found that aerobic exercise reduced tau protein tangles by 63%, amyloid plaques by 76%, and iron accumulation by 58%. It also increased the number of protective cells and reduced inflammatory markers.

Q: Are the results applicable to humans?
A: The results are promising, but it remains to be confirmed whether they also apply to humans. Clinical trials are underway to verify these effects.