Regular physical activity throughout one's life could potentially protect against cognitive deterioration.
In a significant study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered that maintaining high levels of physical fitness may help protect the brain from age-related shrinkage and cognitive decline.
The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, focused on 172 healthy but sedentary adults, aged 22 to 81, from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Participants underwent cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) testing, cognitive assessments, and brain MRI scans.
Dr. Rong Zhang, the senior author of the study, emphasised that age-related brain atrophy is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The association held steady even after controlling for factors such as sex, education, and intracranial volume.
The study found that high physical fitness levels may contribute to maintaining sharper mental abilities with age. Specifically, regular moderate to vigorous physical activity is recognised by health organisations as protective against dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It can reduce brain volume loss and delay cognitive decline through hormonal changes and improved brain structure and function.
The preserved brain volume in this area correlated with stronger performance on cognitive tests. Aging generally corresponded with a decline in gray matter volume and cortical thickness, but individuals with higher levels of CRF experienced significantly less volume loss in the right superior parietal region. This region is associated with reasoning, memory, and fluency.
The protective effect was evident in both men and women, further highlighting the broad benefits of physical activity. The study's findings indicate that individuals who stay physically active may be better equipped to fend off neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
The key mechanisms behind these benefits include improved neuroplasticity, neurogenesis stimulation, enhanced cerebral blood flow, neurotransmitter release, and cognitive reserve development. Exercise strengthens neural connections and communication flexibility, boosts BDNF levels, supports the formation of new neurons, delivers more oxygen and nutrients to brain cells, triggers beneficial chemicals such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, and creates a buffer against cognitive decline.
The study's findings could influence public health strategies aimed at slowing the progression of dementia through lifestyle changes. Engaging in activity to improve one's physical fitness may reduce the risk of ADRD. Maintaining high physical fitness is a powerful strategy to support brain health and reduce risks of Alzheimer's and age-related brain atrophy by promoting brain growth, protecting neurons, and optimising cerebral circulation.
- Maintaining high levels of physical fitness, as indicated by the study, can play a significant role in protecting the brain from age-related shrinkage and cognitive decline, potentially reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).
- The study further suggests that regular moderate to vigorous physical activity could contribute to maintaining sharper mental abilities with age, promoting benefits such as reduced brain volume loss, delayed cognitive decline, and improved brain structure and function.
- Beyond neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, maintaining high physical fitness levels could also support overall health and wellness, including mental health, chronic diseases management, and fitness and exercise performance, due to the key mechanisms behind these benefits, like improved neuroplasticity, neurogenesis stimulation, and enhanced cerebral blood flow.
