A new study recently demonstrated how exercise could contribute to the fight against specific impacts of aging.

This includes studies demonstrating that regular physical activity can preserve the heart's elasticity, lessen mild cognitive damage, and generate hormones that shield against dementia and Alzheimer's disease, a New Atlas report specified.

Although it is understood in general that exercise is good for people in many different ways; scientists continue making interesting inroads around the specifics of this association.

The latest comes from a team of scientists in Germany that has discovered that even small changes to regular physical activity, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can counter the age-associated loss of volume in brain areas associated with a disease.

Researchers at the German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) have looked to add to this growing body of evidence by looking at the effects of exercises on specific areas of the brain.

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Climbing Stairs
(Photo: Pexels/THIS IS ZUN)
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator is an anti-aging strategy.


Brain Regions Examined

According to Fabienne Fox, the lead author of the study published in the Neurology journal, the brain was typically regarded as a whole in past research.

Fox also said that their goal was to take a more detailed look at the brain to discover which parts of the brain physical activity affects most.

To do so, the researchers tapped into data from population-based research of over 2,500 subject whose age ranges from 30 to 94 years old.

This involved examining brain volume and thickness of the cortex through MRIs and assessing their physical activity, with the subjects made to put on the accelerometer on their thigh for seven days.

Better Protection Against Neurodegeneration

Describing their research, Fox said they could demonstrate that physical activity had a noticeable impact on nearly all regions of the brain that were investigated.

Generally, the lead author added, they can say that the higher and more strenuous the physical activity, the bigger the brain regions were, whether about cortical thickness or volumes.

Specifically, the team observed this in the hippocampus, considered the memory's control center. In addition, larger brain volumes offer a better shield against neurodegeneration than tinier ones.

Those standing to benefit most may be the inactive elderly. More so, the researchers discovered that the largest, not nearly sudden, volume increases were observed when comparing inactive subjects older than 70 years old with moderately active individuals.

Effect of Exercise on Brain

In principle, Ahmad Aziz, the study author, explained, that this is excellent news, especially for those who are hesitant to exercise.

The study author also said that their research findings specify that even tiny behaviors changes, like walking 15 minutes each day or taking the stairs rather than riding the elevator, may have a significant favorable impact on the brain and potentially counteract the age-related loss of brain matter, as well as the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Specifically, older adults can already take advantage of modest low-intensity physical activity increases. More so, genetic analysis of brain regions most affected by uptake in a physical activity specified that they are home to high quantities of mitochondria, which offers the body energy yet needs a lot of oxygen.

Aziz explained that this necessitates increased blood flow compared to other brain areas. This is explicitly guaranteed well during physical activity, which could explain the reason such brain regions are benefiting from exercise.

Protective Benefits of Physical Activities on Diseases

As specified in the West Creation Investing site, the analysis also showed a large overlap in genes affected by physical activity and those affected by diseases like Prindon's and Alzheimer's.

This, in particular, provides a probable explanation for the shielding benefits of exercise against such condition types.

According to Fox, with their findings, they want to offer a further impetus to turn more physically active, promote brain health, as well as prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Even modest physical activity can help. Therefore, it is only a tiny effort, yet with a significant effect.

Related information about neurodegenerative diseases is shown on TED Talks' YouTube video below:

 

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