The authors of the new study have said that their findings said nothing regarding the possible causes for gender differences and it doesn’t have immediate implications for treatment when they presented their papers at the Alzheimer’s Association worldwide Conference in Washington.
Advertisement
People suffering from Alzheimer’s disease may benefit from regular exercise in terms of lowering the levels of dementia and memory loss, according to new research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association global Conference (AAIC) in Washington, DC. Participants were assigned to either a group taking part in a supervised exercise program for 16 weeks or a control group. The researchers found that those who exercised suffered from fewer mood problems such as anxiety, irritability, and depression. Aerobic exercise also improved blood flow in the regions of the brain associated with memory and processing, leading to corresponding improvements in attention, planning and executive function. “It seems to me we’re changing aging-related effects, and we may be changing Alzheimer’s-related effects, both with exercise”.
Now, an analysis of data from this and other prior studies of solanezumab suggest that patients treated earlier with the antibody saw their rate of cognitive decline reduced by around a third compared to those who started treatment later. In particular, participants attending 80% of exercise classes who exercised vigorously experienced significant improvements in their mental speed and attention. At the 2015 meeting of the Alzheimer Assn. this week, scientists have reported on several promising ways to predict a person’s likelihood of developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease at least five years before behavioral symptoms become evident. Earlier research by Baker and her colleagues has established that a program of moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise also drives down the volume of amyloid plaque in the cerebrospinal fluid of older adults with mild cognitive impairment. “No now approved medication can rival these effects”. In addition, women’s quality of life declined at a faster rate.
“These findings also highlight the potential value of non-drug therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and remind us that research ought to adamantly pursue combination and multi-modal approaches to Alzheimer’s therapy and prevention”, concludes Carrillo.
Advertisement
“If they are positive, these drugs will be the first identified to directly interfere with the disease process and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s”.
