Dr. Adams
07-19-2008, 11:56 AM
"A new study shows that, as is seen in normal aging, higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with reduced brain atrophy in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Researchers found that in early AD, cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with whole brain volume and white-matter volume, after controlling for factors including age, sex, and dementia severity, while no such relationship was seen for control subjects without dementia,
Cardiorespiratory fitness may moderate AD-related brain atrophy, or a common underlying AD-related process may affect both brain atrophy and cardiorespiratory fitness. Studies in cognitively normal older adults have suggested that maintaining physical fitness may prevent the functional and structural changes that occur with normal aging.
Among those with no dementia, there was no relationship between fitness and brain atrophy, the authors write. Fitness in these cognitively normal subjects was associated with better global cognitive performance.
Tthe data support but do not prove the idea that exercise may have disease-modifying effects on the brain. All that leads to a recommendation for exercise in AD patients."
Neurology. 2008;71:210-216
Researchers found that in early AD, cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with whole brain volume and white-matter volume, after controlling for factors including age, sex, and dementia severity, while no such relationship was seen for control subjects without dementia,
Cardiorespiratory fitness may moderate AD-related brain atrophy, or a common underlying AD-related process may affect both brain atrophy and cardiorespiratory fitness. Studies in cognitively normal older adults have suggested that maintaining physical fitness may prevent the functional and structural changes that occur with normal aging.
Among those with no dementia, there was no relationship between fitness and brain atrophy, the authors write. Fitness in these cognitively normal subjects was associated with better global cognitive performance.
Tthe data support but do not prove the idea that exercise may have disease-modifying effects on the brain. All that leads to a recommendation for exercise in AD patients."
Neurology. 2008;71:210-216