Three recent studies have shown that exercise not only helps in reducing the risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s but it also doubles as effective therapy.
With the findings presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, chief science officer of the association, summed it well, in saying, “Based on the results we heard reported today at AAIC 2015, exercise or regular physical activity might play a role in both protecting your brain from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and also living better with the disease if you have it.”
Of course, in earlier studies, researchers have found that low levels of physical activity tend to be associated with poor cognitive function later on in life. But these studies have shown that exercise has far more effects on the brain than discovered earlier.
The first of these randomized trials used 200 subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. One part of the group underwent an exercise routine for 16 weeks. After the trial was complete, it was found that they had far less neuropsychiatric symptoms than those in the control group.
As for psychiatric symptoms, those who were a part of other control group showed deterioration with anxiety, depression and irritability while those in the exercise program showed an improvement.
The other two studies which reviewed the effects of aerobic exercise on mild vascular cognitive impairment and the physiological aspect of Alzheimer’s disease. In both studies, it was clear that a lifestyle intervention such as this can actually improve the patient’s condition and quality of life.
As Carrillo concludes, “These findings also highlight the potential value of non-drug therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and remind us that research ought to adamantly pursue combination and multi-modal approaches to Alzheimer’s therapy and prevention.”