Weekly physical activity may help prevent the transition from mild cognitive impairment to dementia

Exercise at least once a week is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment, a study published in an open access journal. Research and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease I will propose. Mild cognitive impairment is a condition that causes more memory and thinking problems for people of the same age than usual. People with mild cognitive impairment are 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than the general population.

A team of researchers at Yonsei University School of Medicine in South Korea Mild cognitive impairment Those who did not motion, Those who performed vigorously or Moderate physical activity At least once a week for at least 10 minutes, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease was reduced by 18%. disease.. Of those who exercise at least once a week, those with mild cognitive impairment who exercise 3-5 times a week are at a 15% risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who exercise less than 3-5 times a week. It was low.

11% of people with mild cognitive impairment started exercising after diagnosis Low risk They develop Alzheimer’s disease more than those who do not exercise at all. Stopping exercise after being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment was associated with the same risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as not exercising before and after the diagnosis.

Corresponding author Hannah Cho said: Regular physical activity It may prevent the transition from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease. Regular exercise is recommended for patients with mild cognitive impairment. It has been suggested that even if people with mild cognitive impairment do not exercise regularly before diagnosis, starting exercise regularly after diagnosis may significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. .. “

The authors used electronic health record data from people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort from 2009 to 2015. The average age of participants ranged from 64 to 69 years. Physical activity was measured using a questionnaire asking participants how much they exercised in the last 7 days.

Of the 247,149 participants included in the study, 99,873 (40%) did not exercise regularly, 45,598 (18%) started exercising after being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, and 45,014. (18%) stopped exercising after diagnosis and 56,664 (23%) exercised at least once a week before and after diagnosis. By the end of the follow-up period, 8.7% of those who did not exercise were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, while 4.8% of those who exercised more than once a week were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Of those who started exercising after diagnosis, 6.3% developed Alzheimer’s disease, compared to 7.7% who stopped exercising after diagnosis.

The author suggests that Regular exercise It may increase the production of molecules that support the growth and survival of neurons and increase blood flow to the brain. This prevents the loss of brain volume, which is often associated with dementia.

The authors gathered information about physical activity at two points in the study, so it is unclear whether participants’ exercise type, intensity, duration, or frequency changed at other times during the study. Is warned.Further research is needed to assess the duration of regular protective effects Physical activity Investigate the underlying biological mechanisms of sustainability and protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease.