Fitness may Help Prevent Mental Decline in Older Adults

Researchers have discovered that older adults who are in good physical shape may have a reduced risk of mental decline, likely due to healthy blood flow to the brain.

Several earlier studies have shown that taking steps to improve cardiovascular health, such as losing weight, exercising and controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol, may help prevent dementia. However, a clear mechanism has not been identified.

In the latest cross-sectional study, researchers studied 42, healthy postmenopausal women who were 50-90 years old. Some women exercised regularly, while others were sedentary. The women took fitness tests on exercise bikes, and ultrasounds were performed to monitor blood flow to the brain. They also took cognitive tests that measured skills such as memory and reasoning.

The authors found that physically fit women had increased blood flow to the brain during exercise, which was also related to improved measures of cognition.

“This study identified strong associations between physical fitness, vascular function and cognition, and provides new understanding regarding the mechanisms by which fitness positively impacts cognition with aging. The implications of this research are considerable and warrant future investigation,” the authors concluded in the January 2009 issue of Neurobiology of Aging.

For more information about integrative therapies to help treat or prevent age-related cognitive disorders, please visit Natural Standard’s Comparative Effectiveness database.

Comments

[mary]

I did not read the actually study but based on the information in this blog, it seems that exercise increased blood flow to the brain DURING exercise. I believe this is usually what happens whether a person is physically active or not. It would be good to know if it also increases blood flow to the brain, even when the active person is not exercising at that moment.

[RZD]

That's amazing! I truly believe that staying healthy is a total mind and body experience, and so as long as you nourish your body and mind by eating right, exercising and staying positive, I'm sure the results will be beneficial.

[VLN]

I think that exercising does so much to the body. Increasing circulation is just one way that it helps us as we age. The fact that it helps dementia should make people want to dedicate more time to physical activities as they age.

[BN]

The energy that exercising makes you feel could contribute to the older population. As you age, your energy level goes down. Through exercising, you can keep feeling young, and if that's how you feel, then it will reflect in your actions and capabilities.

[Luc]

Isn’t this amazing? It makes so much sense that exercise increases blood flow to the brain, and increases in blood flow results in increased nourishment of the brain cells, (neurons). Then they are well oxygenated and we can think straight and carry out our regular businesses.

[Raven]

Exercise does so much to our body, just as it increases circulation, which continues to keep the neurological pathways that aid our memory or mental balance and keeps it going in a healthy life cycle.

[Shontelle]

During exercise, blood flow to the brain increases. What happens after exercise? These study participants had their cognition evaluated during exercise. How was that possible, or did I miss something in the write up? Were electrodes attached to their heads, and questions asked for immediate responses?

[Efeti]

Shontelle,

After exercise, I suppose there is continued blood flow to the brain, it does not mean that after exercise blood flow to the brain is interrupted. At this time, the body cells are well nourished and I believe cognition will then be improved. Most of the time after exercise, I feel energized and I am able to think straight and logically. I guess this study explains it then.

[mt]

I've never heard that exercising is harmful, so for whatever reason it may be, everyone should be exercising at least three times a week for 30 minutes.

[Isabella]

In addition to the harm a sedentary life can cause on the mind, physical inactivity is recognized as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Regular aerobic physical activity increases exercise capacity and plays a role in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

[Michaela]

A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reported findings that also suggest that it's never too late to get moving. The mice in the study were about 70 in human years, and they developed an edge in brainpower after exercising for just a month!

[Ariel]

This study provides good evidence that we should all exercise to stay healthy overall, rather than just as a New Year resolution to lose weight. Not only does the exercise help with cognition in aging women, but we should remember that exercise benefits us in all aspects of our lives.

[Sam]

While I don’t believe that the this study is that earth shattering, I do think that if this gets some good publicity that it will hopefully motivate people to get up and be active. I think that Mary brought up a really good point, of course blood flow is going to increase to the brain during exercise -- whether you are physically active or not. I would be curious about the basal levels of blood flow in people that were active versus non-active but not during exercise.

[Rita]

More and more evidence that evaluates the role of physical activity in improving cognitive function is emerging. With the emergence of more evidence, the results of these studies just give us another reason (besides improving cardiovascular health and overall fitness) to exercise.

[Sarah]

Wow that's really interesting Michaela! I know many times I feel as though it is too late to get into a regular exercise regimen because I haven't done it in so long, but I guess the body can adjust and reap the health benefits too! Although a lot of things that we put into our bodies can build up and cause damage, I'm glad exercise and a change in diet can be effective ways to change your life. I hope the message that all ages can get into making healthier life choices gets out there.

[LNDL]

Sam brings up a good point in terms of the baseline or basal blood flow of these women. In addition, it may also be interesting to factor any risk factors or predispositions to mental decline, as these may present as confounding variables. But overall, this is a very interesting aspect that increased blood flow to the brain may slow down mental decline!

[Lara]

Here's a quote from the BBC news article:

"James Blumenthal, a psychologist at the Duke University Medical Center, in Durham, North Carolina, said one of the key findings was that exercise had beneficial effects on functions controlled by specific areas of the brain. Memory, planning, organization and juggling different tasks all improved under the study. But attention, concentration and psychomotor skills, controlled by different parts of the brain, were not affected."

[Linda]

Another study found that men who walked more than two miles per day had a reduced risk of developing dementia. In contract, men who walked less than one mile per day increased their risk for dementia by 71 percent.

[Marshall]

Linda, do you have a link or a reference to that study? I am interested in learning more about that. I am amazed that a one-mile walk/day could be the difference between a 71% increased risk or an actual decrease risk of dementia!

[cara]

I really do love the studies that conclude "exercise and healthy food is good for you." If there's anything to note about muscles, it is: use it or lose it. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and prevents the obstruction of neurological pathways. It should be no surprise that exercise would help older adults retain memory as it also helps school aged children do better on tests. Strokes are caused by obstructions of arterial blood to the brain, potentially causing brain hemorrhages. Low blood pressure and exercise prevent strokes and thus, loss of memory.

[William Dublois]

I believe this is a very legitimate finding that the general public needs to be made aware of. There is a multitude of health benefits from performing even light exercise in the later years of adulthood, and it is not surprising that these benefits spread to the preservation of mental and cognitive faculties. A sedentary lifestyle not only slows the body, but the mind as well. All physiological processes will begin to function less efficiently, leading to a decline in physical and mental well being. The proposed reasoning refers to stimulating more blood flow and oxygen delivered to the brain, but when dealing within the realm of alternative medicine, we mustn’t forget about the increased flow of chi as well.

[Divyang]

Exercise helps improve the oxygen intake and helps blood circulation. More oxygen helps your brain relax and lowers the stress, which means good mental health. Essential of Yoga and Pranayam is breathing.

Here is the article about exercises you can do in monsoon.

Read Fitness Fundas for Monsoon

[pat]

It seems intuitive that patients who remain physically active as they age can prevent the rapid decline of their cognitive health. Challenging coordination and maintaining adequate blood flow in the elderly is critical in cognition and positive mental effects. According to the Natural Standard's grading system, ginkgo and sage have strong evidence supporting their use in prevention of cognitive decline. It would be interesting to see a comparative study done to measure outcomes of cognitive decline between patients who are taking ginkgo or sage versus those who are physically active with no alternative therapy.