Simple Exercise Can Slow Memory Loss
2022-08-16
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1New research suggests that even a simple exercise program might help older people with light, or mild, memory problems.
2Doctors have long advised patients to do physical activity to help keep their brains healthy.
3But the U.S. government-supported research marks the longest study of whether exercise makes any difference once memory starts to decline.
4Researchers found around 300 inactive older adults with memory changes called mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
5MCI is a condition that sometimes comes before Alzheimer's disease.
6Half of the older adults did aerobic exercises, and the rest did stretching and balance movements that raised their heart rates a little.
7People in both groups got attention from trainers who worked with them at youth organization centers called YMCAs around the United States.
8When COVID-19 shut down gyms, the trainers helped the study participants keep moving at home by video calls.
9After a year, testing of mental activity showed neither group had worsened, said lead researcher Laura Baker of Wake Forest School of Medicine in the state of North Carolina.
10 Brain scans did not show the shrinkage that often goes with worsening memory problems, she said.
11By comparison, similar MCI patients in another long-term study of brain health - but without exercise - experienced cognitive, or mental, decline over a year.
12The early findings are surprising.
13But the National Institute on Aging cautioned that tracking non-exercisers in the same study would have offered better evidence.
14The results suggest "this is doable for everybody" - not just seniors healthy enough to work up a hard sweat, said Baker.
15She presented the data recently at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.
16"Exercise needs to be part of the prevention strategies" for at-risk seniors, she added.
17Maria Carrillo is the Alzheimer's Association chief scientific officer.
18She said earlier research has found regular physical activity of any kind may reduce damaging inflammation and increase blood flow to the brain.
19She added that the new study is especially interesting because the COVID-19 pandemic began halfway through the study.
20That meant the study participants became socially isolated, or separated from others.
21Social isolation has long been known to increase people's risk of memory problems, Carrillo said.
22It is a difficult time for dementia research.
23Doctors are not sure about prescribing a high-priced new drug called Aduhelm.
24The drug is supposed to be the first to slow the progression of Alzheimer's - but it is not yet clear if it really helps patients.
25Researchers last month reported another drug that works similarly failed in an important study.
26It, too, targets amyloid plaques in the brain.
27There is growing urgency to find whether exercise and other steps might offer at least some protection.
28How much and what kind of exercise?
29In Baker's study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes four times a week.
30It did not matter whether it was exercise on the treadmill device or stretching exercises.
31Baker believes the social connection with the trainers helped. Each participant completed over 100 hours of exercise.
32"We wouldn't have done the exercise on our own," said Doug Maxwell of Verona, Wisconsin, who joined the study with his wife.
33The husband and wife, both 81, were assigned to the stretching classes.
34They felt so good afterward that when the study ended, they bought electric bikes in hopes of even more activity.
35Baker suspects that the volume of exercise might explain why even the simple stretching added up to a health benefit.
36Participants were supposed to exercise without social support for an additional six months.
37Baker has not studied that data yet.
38In addition to the recent study, Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other steps such as a healthy diet, brain games and social activities may reduce the risk of dementia.
39I'm John Russell.
40And I'm Ashley Thompson.
1New research suggests that even a simple exercise program might help older people with light, or mild, memory problems. 2Doctors have long advised patients to do physical activity to help keep their brains healthy. But the U.S. government-supported research marks the longest study of whether exercise makes any difference once memory starts to decline. 3The study 4Researchers found around 300 inactive older adults with memory changes called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is a condition that sometimes comes before Alzheimer's disease. 5Half of the older adults did aerobic exercises, and the rest did stretching and balance movements that raised their heart rates a little. 6People in both groups got attention from trainers who worked with them at youth organization centers called YMCAs around the United States. When COVID-19 shut down gyms, the trainers helped the study participants keep moving at home by video calls. 7After a year, testing of mental activity showed neither group had worsened, said lead researcher Laura Baker of Wake Forest School of Medicine in the state of North Carolina. Brain scans did not show the shrinkage that often goes with worsening memory problems, she said. 8By comparison, similar MCI patients in another long-term study of brain health - but without exercise - experienced cognitive, or mental, decline over a year. 9The early findings are surprising. But the National Institute on Aging cautioned that tracking non-exercisers in the same study would have offered better evidence. 10'Doable for everybody' 11The results suggest "this is doable for everybody" - not just seniors healthy enough to work up a hard sweat, said Baker. She presented the data recently at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. "Exercise needs to be part of the prevention strategies" for at-risk seniors, she added. 12Maria Carrillo is the Alzheimer's Association chief scientific officer. She said earlier research has found regular physical activity of any kind may reduce damaging inflammation and increase blood flow to the brain. 13She added that the new study is especially interesting because the COVID-19 pandemic began halfway through the study. That meant the study participants became socially isolated, or separated from others. Social isolation has long been known to increase people's risk of memory problems, Carrillo said. 14Difficulties of research 15It is a difficult time for dementia research. Doctors are not sure about prescribing a high-priced new drug called Aduhelm. The drug is supposed to be the first to slow the progression of Alzheimer's - but it is not yet clear if it really helps patients. 16Researchers last month reported another drug that works similarly failed in an important study. It, too, targets amyloid plaques in the brain. 17There is growing urgency to find whether exercise and other steps might offer at least some protection. 18How much and what kind of exercise? 19In Baker's study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes four times a week. It did not matter whether it was exercise on the treadmill device or stretching exercises. 20Baker believes the social connection with the trainers helped. Each participant completed over 100 hours of exercise. 21"We wouldn't have done the exercise on our own," said Doug Maxwell of Verona, Wisconsin, who joined the study with his wife. 22The husband and wife, both 81, were assigned to the stretching classes. They felt so good afterward that when the study ended, they bought electric bikes in hopes of even more activity. 23Baker suspects that the volume of exercise might explain why even the simple stretching added up to a health benefit. Participants were supposed to exercise without social support for an additional six months. Baker has not studied that data yet. 24In addition to the recent study, Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other steps such as a healthy diet, brain games and social activities may reduce the risk of dementia. 25I'm John Russell. 26And I'm Ashley Thompson. 27Lauran Neergaard reported this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 28______________________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30aerobic -adj. strengthening the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more 31gym (gymnasium) -n. a building or room for exercise 32participant -n. a person who is involved in an activity or study 33scan -n. a picture produced a special machine to see inside of something like the human body 34strategy -n. a long-term plan 35dementia - n. (medical) a mental illness that causes someone to be unable to think clearly or to understand what is real and what is not real 36prescribe - v. to officially tell someone to use (a medicine, therapy, diet, etc.) as a remedy or treatment 37amyloid plaque - n. misfolded proteins that form in between nerve cells 38benefit - n. a good or helpful result or effect 39______________________________________________________________________ 40What do you think of exercise and health? We want to hear from you. 41We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 42Write your comment in the box. 43Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. 44Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with "D" on it. It is free. 45Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.