- EXPLORE FURTHER: Specialist highlights overlooked indicator of early-onset dementia
Increasing your physical activity levels once you reach middle age might genuinely help prevent Alzheimer’s disease in old age, according to research findings.
Researchers from Spain monitored over 300 individuals aged between 45 and 65 years old and discovered that participants who boosted their physical activities to approximately two and a half hours per week showed reduced susceptibility to the accumulation of an harmful protein called amyloid in the brain.
Large clusters of this protein, along with another called tau, can create plaques and tangles.
This is believed to contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which is the primary cause of dementia.
The group from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health also mentioned that individuals who engaged in physical activity more frequently tended to maintain greater volume in the region of the brain associated with cognitive functions and memory.
Dr Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, who specializes in brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease and is the principal investigator of the study, stated, "These results underscore the significance of encouraging physical exercise during midlife as part of a public health approach to prevent Alzheimer's."
'Strategies focused on encouraging higher levels of physical activity might play a crucial role in decreasing the occurrence of the disease in coming years.'
Dr Müge Akıncī, an authority on Alzheimer’s risk factors and co-author of the study, commented: "Individuals engaging in even lower levels of physical activity than advised still exhibited increased cortical thickness compared to inactive individuals, indicating that any degree of movement, regardless of how small, provides health advantages."
Experts have been cautioning for years that spending too much time sedentary increases the risk of various health issues such as weight gain and type 2 diabetes. diabetes , cancer And even an early tomb.
In this research, scientists monitored 337 grown-ups who completed activity surveys and underwent neuroimaging examinations.
During a four-year follow-up period, researchers found that participants who increased their physical activity levels to meet both WHO and NHS guidelines exhibited lower amyloid buildup in brain scans when compared to those who remained inactive or decreased their activity levels.
The NHS suggests that adults should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week—or equivalently, 75 minutes of intense exercise.
The study, featured in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia Furthermore, it was proposed that individuals who were previously sedentary but subsequently began exercising particularly saw benefits.
Researchers discovered that the brains of individuals who engaged in more physical activity were thicker in regions linked to memory—specifically, the medial temporal lobe.
It is believed that approximately 13 percent of all Alzheimer's cases might be attributed to lack of physical activity.
Dr Sarah-Naomi James, a neuroepidemiologist from University College London who did not participate in the study, commented: "This research aligns with extensive evidence suggesting that leading a sedentary and inactive lifestyle negatively impacts brain health."
However, exercising at a later stage in life could potentially decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, she pointed out.
'in our study, we demonstrate that initiating physical activity for the first time during one’s sixties has shown positive outcomes.'
Dr Lucy Devendra, who leads research at Alzheimer's Society, also stated: "We understand that remaining active as we age continues to offer significant advantages, including improvements in mood, sleep, and physical movement."
She stated, "We cannot definitively claim that exercise led to the alterations in the brain. Modifying a single behavior, such as exercising, doesn’t ensure prevention, yet it remains beneficial for general well-being."
It comes as a a significant research from last year likewise indicated Nearly half of all Alzheimer's cases might be avoided by addressing 14 specific lifestyle elements.
To lower the risk of dementia across one’s lifespan, the commission additionally provided 13 recommendations aimed at both individuals and governmental bodies.
This encompasses providing hearing aids to everyone who needs them, decreasing hazardous noise exposure, and enhancing screening and treatment accessibility for elevated cholesterol levels amongst individuals aged 40 and above.
Specialists asserted that the research, featured in the esteemed journal The Lancet, offered more optimism than 'ever before' that this debilitating condition which robs countless individuals of their memories could potentially be stopped.
Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent form of dementia and affects 982,000 individuals in the UK.
The Alzheimer's Research UK analysis revealed that 74,261 individuals were affected. passed away due to dementia in 2022 compared to 69,178 the previous year. becoming the nation's leading cause of death.
Inactive routines in the UK, where people remain seated at desks throughout their working hours, followed by commuting via trains or cars only to spend more time seated watching television upon returning home, are believed to result in numerous deaths annually.
An estimation from 2019 placed the yearly death toll at 70,000 people a year due to the health issues resulting in costs for NHS $700 million each year to treat.
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 2 million deaths worldwide each year can be attributed to lack of physical activity, positioning it as a potential contender for one of the top 10 contributors to global mortality and disability.
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