Exercise Keeps Aging Brains Humming

It’s not exactly news, but three more research projects recently demonstrated the brain-related benefits of exercise. HealthDay reports that in one project, 65 people between the ages 55 to 89 were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group did stretching exercises while the second group did at least 45 minutes of high-intensity aerobics four times a week. Six months in, MRI brain scans of the aerobics group showed that blood flow had significantly increased to the memory and processing centers of participants’ brains, and those in the group had improved ability to plan, organize and pay attention. Wait, there’s more: cerebrospinal fluid samples drawn from the same group showed a significant reduction in tau protein tangles that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In another research project, 200 people between ages 50 and 90 with Alzheimer’s were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise program or a control group that did no extra exercise. The researchers found that those who exercised suffered from fewer mood problems such as anxiety, irritability and depression, and had significant improvements in mental speed and attention. Finally, HealthDay reports, a third project involved 71 people between ages 56 and 96 who had suffered ministrokes, diminishing their ability to think and remember. Half were assigned to regular aerobics classes. The researchers found that participants who took aerobics significantly improved their memory and selective attention, compared with those not asked to exercise regularly.