Exercise Strengthens Brain Networks

New research suggests that regular walks can fortify connections within and between brain networks, offering promising evidence of exercise’s role in slowing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Published in the Journal for Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, the study focused on older adults with normal brain function, mild cognitive impairment, and a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, examining their brain activity and story recollection abilities.

Principal investigator J Carson Smith, a kinesiology professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, explained that the brain networks studied in the research typically deteriorate over time in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. These connections become disrupted, leading to difficulties in clear thinking and memory loss. However, the study demonstrated that exercise training can strengthen these connections.

The findings build upon Smith’s previous research, which highlighted how walking can improve brain function and decrease cerebral blood flow in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. For this study, 33 participants aged between 71 and 85 walked on a treadmill under supervision four days a week for 12 weeks. Researchers evaluated their story recall abilities before and after the exercise regimen, in addition to conducting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure changes in communication within and between the brain networks responsible for cognitive function.

After the 12-week exercise program, participants exhibited significant improvements in their ability to recall the story. The brain activity appeared stronger and more synchronized, indicating exercise’s potential to induce neuroplasticity and adaptability. These promising results provide further hope that exercise could serve as a preventive measure or aid in stabilizing individuals with mild cognitive impairment, potentially delaying their progression to Alzheimer’s dementia.

Re-Reported from the source originally published in Ahmedabad Mirror.