Move your feet to prevent dementia: Research shows exercise boosts brain function

( Natural News ) Walking has long been linked to multiple health benefits, but a recent study from the University of Maryland suggests that it could be the key to preventing dementia . In the study, which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease , researchers looked at the effects of exercise, specifically walking, on the brain function of a group of adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with MCI experience cognitive changes that are serious enough to be noticed but are not severe enough to interfere with daily life. Amnestic MCI primarily affects the memory, while non-amnestic MCI mostly affects thinking skills. MCI affects up to 20 percent of elderly Americans . While the cause of MCI remains uncertain, evidence suggests that it increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia . Estimates show that the economic costs caused by dementia grow at a rate of 15.94 percent annually, up from $279·6 billion in 2000 to $948 billion in 2016. Europe and North America bear the highest dementia-related economic burden globally. The study observed 17 adults with MCI and 18 healthy adults who functioned as control; all of them were between the ages of 61 and 88. The exercise intervention lasted 12 weeks and included four 30-minute sessions of moderate intensity walks on the treadmill per week. Exercise intensity was progressively increased over the first four weeks. The participants also engaged in 10 minutes of light activity as warm-up and cool-down. The treadmill speed and grade were gradually increased per session to promote increases in aerobic fitness. It focused on changes in cerebral blood flow in specific brain regions that are known to be involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. These are parts of the brain that affect perception, motor control, self-awareness, […]

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