[ad_1]
Research has shown that older people who move more – even if they only do housework – can protect themselves from the effects of dementia.
Scientists studied brain donations from 454 elderly people who died, 191 of whom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
Before their death, they had undergone tests of thought and memory over a period of 20 years. Their average age at death was 91 years old.
On average two years before the death, each participant received a wrist accelerometer that monitored the activity.
Working day and night, the camera recorded everything from walk in the house to fitness routines.
The study found that higher levels of daily movement were badociated with better thinking and memory abilities.
The pattern remained the same even when the researchers took into account the severity of the damage seen in the brain.
"People who moved more had better thinking and memory skills than those who did not move at all," said Dr. Aron S Buchman, head of the medical center's research and development department. Rush University of Chicago.
"We found that movement could be a reserve to help maintain thinking and memory when there were signs of dementia in the brain."
"Exercise could help by strengthening the links between brain cells – called cognitive reserve – which makes our brain more resistant to the changes that cause cognitive decline," said Dr. James Pickett, head of research at the charity Alzheimer's Society.
The results appear in the journal Neurology.
Australian Associated Press
[ad_2]
Source link
