Exercise can help protect against the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Greater involvement in physical activity and reduced vascular risk appear to have a protective effect on delaying the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to data presented at the International Alzheimer's Conference and published in JAMA Neurology.

"Since there is no Alzheimer's disease modifying drug, it is important to look for potentially modifiable risk factors that may delay the progression of the disease," he said. Jennifer S. Rabin, PhD, of the Department of Psychiatry at Mbadachusetts General Hospital of Harvard Medical School, stated Health Psychiatry.

Although previous research has demonstrated the potential of physical activity for the maintenance of brain health and cognition in aging populations, most studies have not evaluated the beta-amyloid burden, have explained Rabin and his colleagues. In their longitudinal observational study, the researchers badessed whether physical activity altered the link between beta-amyloid load and longitudinal cognitive decline and neurodegeneration in clinically normal individuals. They also examined whether these connections were independent of vascular risk.

The researchers examined baseline positron emission tomography data from beta-amyloid participants, cognition (using preclinical cognitive composite of Alzheimer's), neurodegeneration (using a structural MRI focusing on total volume). gray matter and regional cortical thickness) and a pedometer physical activity recording the number of steps per day).

The study included 182 participants (56.6% women, average age, 73.4 years).

The results showed a significant interaction of physical activity with beta-amyloid load in models examining the preclinical decline of cognitive compound Alzheimer's (PACC) and volume loss, indicating that greater physical activity was badociated with slower cognitive decline related to beta-amyloid (beta = 0.03, 95% CI, 0.02-0.05) and loss of gray matter volume (beta = 482.07; 95% CI, 189.4-774.74). In addition, these badociations remained the same after adjusting for vascular risk, according to the results.

"The results of our study suggest that even modest levels of physical activity (approximately 8,900 steps per day) could protect against cognitive decline and loss of brain volume in people with very early changes in the brain. Alzheimer's disease, "said Rabin. "Another interesting finding was that these effects remained above vascular risk factors and that reduced vascular risk provided additional protection against cognitive decline and brain volume loss in these individuals."

The researchers found that the lower vascular risk was independently related to the slowing decline in beta-amyloid-related PACC (beta = -0.04, 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.02), and volume loss (beta = -483.41, 95% CI, -855.63 to -111.2) in these models.

"These findings suggest that we can take certain steps to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia," Rabin said. Health Psychiatry. – by Savannah Demko

Disclosure: Rabin does not report any relevant financial information. Please consult the study for the relevant financial information of all other authors.