Exercise may prevent dementia, according to a new review

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Research on both humans and other animals provides a wealth of evidence that regular exercise helps to ward off dementia.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have been looking back over the last several years of evidence on how exercise may keep the brain, as well as the body, fit. They have found that physical fitness is indeed related to a reduced risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. Those who took at least 15-30 minutes exercise three times a week were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, even if they had a genetic predisposition to it.

Fitness training was also linked to better cognitive performance and brain functioning. In one study in this review, covering a group of 62-70 year olds, those who continued in work or retired people who exercised showed increased flow of blood to the brain and generally superior cognitive functioning. These findings are also backed up by many studies in animals. In other words, if you keep physically fit, you can expect to keep your brain healthy.

Source
American Psychological Association meeting 11th August 2006

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