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Regular Exercise Could Keep Alzheimer's at Bay

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By JENNY HOPE

TAKING exercise at least twice a week during midlife could be the best insurance against developing Alzheimer's, say doctors.

People in their late 40s and early 50s could cut their risk of developing dementia by about 50 per cent simply by becoming more active, according to a study.

Those who are genetically more at risk of developing Alzheimer's have even more to gain, as their risk is reduced by about 60 per cent. Swedish researchers claim the findings could make a big difference in helping to stave off the disease.

Dr Miia Kivipelto, of the Ageing Research Centre at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said: 'If an individual adopts an active lifestyle in youth and at midlife, this may increase their probability of enjoying both physically and cognitively vital years in their life.' The research was welcomed by British experts who said it could help people keep mentally alert longer.

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, affecting over 700,000 Britons, with about 500 new cases diagnosed every day as people live longer.

For some sufferers, new drugs can delay the progress of devastating symptoms such as memory loss and erosion of the ability to do everyday things such as washing.

But there is currently no cure for the disease.

Previous studies have suggested regular exercise might guard against dementia but this is the biggest to look at the effects over a long period of time, around two decades.

The study, published yesterday in the medical journal The Lancet Neurology, involved nearly 1,500 men and women, of whom nearly 200 developed dementia or Alzheimer's between the ages of 65 and 79.

The researchers looked back at how physically active the volunteers had been up to 21 years earlier, when they would have been in middle-age.

Those who developed Alzheimer's or another form of dementia were far less likely to have been active in midlife than those who remained free of dementia.

The minimum amount of exercise that appeared to be protective was physical activity that lasted 20-30 minutes at least twice a week and which was enough to cause breathlessness and sweating.

The Government recommends that adults take moderate aerobic exercise for 20 to 30 minutes three to five times a week for benefits including a healthy heart and lungs.

Explaining the Stockholm findings, Dr Kivipelto said that regular physical exercise might protect against dementia by keeping the small blood vessels of the brain healthy.

It could also help prevent conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure which make people more vulnerable to Alzheimer's.

Other research has shown that mentally demanding jobs and everyday stimulating activities such as chatting on the phone, watching television or listening to the radio help to keep people mentally alert because it involves information processing.

This may help maintain a 'reserve' of brain cells that resists the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

The potential benefits of regular visits to the gym or swimming pool were emphasised yesterday by the Alzheimer's Society.

A spokesman for the society said: 'We would endorse the link suggested in this study between a healthy body and healthy mind.

'Physical exercise, particularly aerobic activity, is important for maintaining a good blood supply to the brain.' j.hope@dailymail.co.uk

Source: Daily Mail; London (UK)

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