How is physical education good for the brain
Aerobic exercise improves memory by increasing blood flow to the brain
Anna Yudina, "Scientific Russia"
Scientists have found that exercise increases blood flow in two key areas of the brain associated with memory, according to a press release from UT Southwestern Exercise improves memory, boosts blood flow to brain.
Article by Thomas et al. Brain Perfusion Change in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment After 12 Months of Aerobic Exercise Training is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease – VM.
Scientists have collected a lot of evidence linking exercise with brain health, and some studies show that physical fitness can even improve memory. But what happens during a workout to trigger these benefits? A new study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center that mapped brain changes after one year of aerobic training has revealed a potentially critical process: exercise increases blood flow in two key areas of the brain associated with memory. It is noteworthy that the study showed that this blood flow can help even elderly people with memory problems improve cognitive functions, which, according to scientists, can serve as a guide for future research on Alzheimer's disease.
"We may someday be able to develop a drug or procedure that safely directs blood flow to these areas of the brain," says Binu Thomas, a senior researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in the field of neuroimaging. "But we're just beginning to explore the right combination of strategies to help prevent or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. We need to better understand the brain and aging processes."
Blood flow and memory
The study documented changes in long-term memory and cerebral blood flow in 30 participants aged 60 and older with memory problems. Half of them completed a year-long program of regular aerobics training; the rest did only stretching.
The group that performed the exercises showed a 47 percent improvement in memory performance after one year compared with minimal changes in participants engaged in stretching. Brain imaging of participants from the exercise group, done at rest at the beginning and end of the study, showed increased blood flow in the anterior cingulate cortex and in the hippocampus – brain structures that play an important role in memory function.
A: cerebral blood flow in a group of elderly people at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease after one year of aerobics. Yellow and white colors show an increase in flow in the hippocampus, anterior cingulate gyrus and other structures of the frontal area. B: no changes or decrease in blood flow in the group of volunteers who performed only stretching exercises.
Other studies have already documented the benefits of aerobic exercise for cognitively normal adults as well. Thomas' previous research has shown that older athletes have better blood flow in the cortex than adults who lead a sedentary lifestyle. But the new study is significant because it shows improvement over a longer period in adults at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
"We've shown that even when your memory starts to fade, you can still affect it by adding aerobic exercise to your lifestyle," says Thomas.
The search for measures to combat dementia is becoming increasingly urgent: more than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and their number is expected to triple by 2050.
Recent studies have helped scientists better understand the molecular genesis of the disease, including a 2018 discovery at the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Institute at Southwestern University that focused on identifying the condition before symptoms appeared. However, billions of dollars spent on research on how to prevent or slow down dementia have not led to any proven treatments that would make early diagnosis effective for patients.
Southwestern University scientists are among many teams around the world trying to determine whether exercise could be the first such intervention. There is growing evidence that they may play a role in delaying or reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
For example, a 2018 study found that people with lower levels of physical fitness experienced a more rapid deterioration of vital nerve fibers in the brain, called white matter. A study published last year found that exercise correlated with slower deterioration of the hippocampus.
As for the importance of blood flow, Thomas says that one day it could be used in combination with other strategies to preserve brain function in people with mild cognitive impairment.
"Cerebral blood flow is part of the puzzle, and we have to keep solving it," Thomas says. "But we have already received enough data to understand that running a fitness program can benefit our brain and heart throughout life."
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