How Exercise Can Train the Brain and Even Compensate for Genes

There is exciting evidence that exercise is beneficial to brain health.

In her article, How Exercise Can Train the Brain and Even Compensate for Genes, Dr Ruth Buczynski, PhD discusses a recent study of the effects of exercise on the brain.

For people concerned about Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) this discussion is very important as it shows that something positive can be achieved.

Apparently people who carry the APOE gene mutation e4 have an increased their risk of developing AD by 15 times that of someone without the e4 mutation.

Not a very relaxing thing to consider. Still this research is very encouraging.

Dr Buczynski explains more about the study results;

Denise Head, PhD with a team of researchers out of Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) took 201 adults between the ages of 45-88, none of whom were showing cognitive signs of AD.

The participants were given brain scans and DNA testing in order to document amyloid plaque in the brain (a large amount of which is associated with memory loss and AD) and to test for the e4 mutation.

They then completed extensive questionnaires about their exercise habits over the last 10 years.

When the questionnaire results were compiled, researchers found that exercise was marginally beneficial for those who walked or jogged at least 30 minutes 5 times a week.

These study participants showed less amyloid plaque, though the difference in plaque between the exercising and non-exercising groups was minimal.

However, when also factoring in the e4 mutation, the results were startlingly different.

Those with the e4 mutation had much more amyloid plaque than participants without the mutation, except for those who both exercised and carried e4 mutations. Their plaque levels were the same as people who didn’t carry the mutation.

 

I don’t know about you but that is enough to get me out that door and walking.

If you are interested in reading more about brain health have a look at nicabm –National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine.

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