Dementia is a broad category of brain diseases that cause a long term and often gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember that is great enough to affect a person’s daily functioning. Regular physical exercise not only enhances fitness but also has a positive impact on brain metabolism, researchers say.
Research says:
- The findings showed that physical activity prevented an increase in choline.
- Choline is a macronutrient that’s important for liver function, normal brain development.
- In addition, nerve function, muscle movement, supporting energy levels and maintaining a healthy metabolism.
- Johannes Pantel, Professor at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany.
- The concentration of this metabolite often rises as a result of the increased loss of nerve cells.
- It typically occurs in the case of Alzheimer’s disease.
- In the study, physical exercise led to stable cerebral choline concentrations in the training group.
- Whereas choline levels increased in the control group.
- The results showed that regular physical exercise seems beneficial in the prevention of cognitive impairment.
- Also dementia in old age.
Physical fitness:
- The participants were asked to mount an exercise bike three times a week over a period of 12 weeks for 30-minute training sessions.
- Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were used to measure brain metabolism and brain structure.
- The participants’ physical fitness also improved.
- They showed increased cardiac efficiency after the training period.
- Overall, these findings suggest that physical exercise not only improves physical fitness but also protects cells.
- To understand the positive influence of physical activity on the brain.
- Gerontologists and sports physicians examined the effects of regular exercise on brain metabolism.
- Also memory of participants aged between 65 and 85 on movement-related parameters.
- In addition, cardiopulmonary fitness and cognitive performance.