Research on 69 people aged 55 to 88, WUSTL scientists have investigated the relationship between exercise habits and the appearance of biomarkers (also known as biomarkers). of Alzheimer's disease.
Exercise regularly to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Biological markers that reflect the amount of specific proteins in the brain and fluid in the spine are characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. The transformation of these quantities may help to detect the disease before the symptoms appear.
The Alzheimer's Association thinks that physical activity can preserve cognitive function or quality of life in diagnosed patients. Research in mice also shows that exercise reduces the accumulation of proteins carrying pathogens in the brain.
Dr. Denise said this study is the only evidence in humans about the relationship between physical activity and biomarkers of Alzheimer's.
" From this result doctors recommend that you take part in exercise not only when you experience Alzheimer's symptoms but also to prevent this disease, " said the research leader.
The study participants filled out a questionnaire about their exercise habits for 10 years. The scientists then analyzed their samples of the cerebrospinal fluid and PET scans of a protein in the brain called amyloid - accumulating into ' plaques ' in Alzheimer's patients' brains.
To measure the level of activity, the scientists applied the guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA): exercise 30 minutes a day and 5 days a week. They found that those who performed at or near the recommended levels of AHA reduced the amount of amyloid in the brain and the amount of protein called tau (signs of neurological dysfunction and death). lower.
This finding is significant for efforts to limit the risk of a public health crisis. Currently in the United States there are 4.5 million people with Alzheimer's disease, it is expected that by 2050 will be 13.2 million people. Kelvin Y Liang, the author of the study, said: ' With the increasing number of elderly people in the United States, Alzheimer's will be an increasingly common disease affecting many families and cost a significant amount of money '.
The scientists also looked at the relationship between exercise and the formation of important components of the brain, such as nerve cells, blood vessels and neuron enhancers. Furthermore, there may be a correlation between improvement in cardiovascular health with results from physical activity and conditions associated with Alzheimer's disease such as insulin disorders and glucose.