Walking May Help with Dementia

 A new study indicates that exercise may bolster the brain function and thinking skills of people afflicted with a certain type of dementia. Vascular cognitive impairment, the second most frequent form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, is caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. The condition typically stems from damaged blood vessels and is associated with high blood pressure and heart disease.

In the early stages of the disease, the brain begins to function less efficiently. Areas of the brain associated with memory, attention, and decision-making show increased levels of neural activity. The damaged brain is being forced to work harder when dealing with routine processes relative to a normal, healthy brain. Researchers at the University of British Columbia decided to see if moderate exercise might potentially alleviate these symptoms. The researchers divided previously sedentary volunteers afflicted with the disease into two groups: a group that would begin working out for one hour at the lab three times a week, and another that would remain inactive.

At the end of six months, members of the exercise group showed less activation in the portions of their brains required for attention and rapid decision-making than did the control group. While the differences were subtle, the results of the study were encouraging.

See Gretchen Reynolds, A 1-Hour Walk, 3 Times a Week, Has Benefits for Dementia, N.Y. Times, May 24, 2017.

Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.