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Exercise training alters cerebral blood flow and improves cognitive performance in the elderly, but not as you think. New study published by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health in the United States Diary of Alzheimer's disease showed that exercise was badociated with improved brain function in a group of adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and decreased blood flow in key regions of the brain.
"A reduction in blood flow may seem a little contrary to what you might think after a program of exercises," said Dr. J. Carson Smith, an badociate professor in the Department of Kinesiology. "But after 12 weeks of physical activity, adults with CIM experienced a decrease in cerebral blood flow, and at the same time significantly improved their cognitive test scores."
Dr. Smith explains that for those who are beginning to experience subtle memory loss, the brain is in "crisis mode" and may attempt to compensate for its inability to function optimally by increasing cerebral blood flow. Although a high cerebral blood flow is generally considered beneficial for brain function, some data suggest that it could actually be a harbinger of additional memory loss in people with which an MCI had been diagnosed. The results of the study of Dr. Smith and his team suggest that physical exercise could potentially reduce this compensatory blood flow and improve cognitive efficiency in people at the very beginning of the disease. # 39; Alzheimer's.
A control group of healthy elderly adults with mild cognitive impairment also followed the physical training program consisting of four 30-minute sessions of moderate-intensity treadmill walking a week. But the program gave different answers from each group.
Unlike the group with MCI, whose physical training decreased cerebral blood flow, exercise training increased cerebral blood flow in the frontal cortex of the healthy group after 12 weeks. Their performance on cognitive tests is also significantly improved, as observed in the MCI group.
For this study, changes in cerebral blood flow were measured in specific regions of the brain involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, including the insula (involved in perception, motor control, consciousness of self, the cognitive functioning), the anterior cingulate. the cortex (involved in decision-making, anticipation, impulse control and emotion) and the inferior frontal gyrus (involved in language processing and speech).
Specifically, in patients with MCI, the decrease in cerebral blood flow in the left insula and in the left anterior cingulate cortex was strongly correlated with the improved performance of a blood test. word badociation used to measure memory and cognitive health.
An earlier publication of this study led by Dr. Smith focused on the influence of intervention on exercise on changes in neural networks of the brain, badociated with memory loss and depression. 39 amyloid accumulation, two signs of MCI and Alzheimer's.
"Our results provide evidence that exercise can improve brain function in people who already have cognitive decline," Dr. Smith said optimistically. "We have every interest in targeting people at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease earlier in the disease process." We find that exercise can impact biomarkers of brain function, so as to protect people by preventing or delaying the onset of dementia. "
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Material provided by University of Maryland. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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