Fitness trainers take note! In a concerted effort to determine if exercise could actually slow the effects of cognitive decline, researchers at the University of Connecticut recently analyzed almost 20 studies that focused on over 1,000 adults in their 70’s to early 80’s. The results showed that certain kinds of exercise may actually help people fighting the effects of Alzeimer’s Disease.
The research results showed that resistance training alone did not have any effects on stopping cognitive decline, resistance training combined with aerobic exercise yielded only small improvements, but aerobic exercise alone actually produced a positive effect on brain function. And, the more aerobic exercise sessions the participants completed, the better the results.
“Aerobic exercise may have had larger effects on cognitive function than other types of exercise because aerobic activity increases heart rate more, which increases blood flow to the brain, leading to adaptations due to neuroplasticity and the release of chemicals that enhance memory and mental clarity,” stated Gregory Panza, MA, exercise physiologist at the University of Connecticut and Hartford Hospital and lead researcher for the study.
“Although all types of exercise are important to help older adults keep their independence and perform activities of daily living, a fitness professional who is designing an exercise regimen of a patient or client with a family history of, early signs of , or (a diagnosis of) Alzheimer’s disease may want to consider emphasizing aerobic activity as the primary modality in the exercise prescription,” said Panza.
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