A new study from the University of Maryland School of Public Health has found that walking can strengthen the connections within and between three of the brain’s networks, including one associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The study examined the brains and story recollection abilities of older adults with normal brain function and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, which is a slight decline in mental abilities like memory, reasoning and judgment and a risk factor for Alzheimer’s. The study builds upon previous research, which showed how walking may decrease cerebral blood flow and improve brain function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
According to an article in a new study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Public Health, walking can strengthen connections within and between three of the brain’s networks, including the one associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This finding adds to the growing evidence that exercise improves brain health.
The study, which was published in the Journal for Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, examined the brains and story recollection abilities of older adults with normal brain function and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment is a slight decline in mental abilities like memory, reasoning, and judgment and is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.
J. Carson Smith, a kinesiology professor with the School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study, stated, “Historically, the brain networks we studied in this research show deterioration over time in people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. They become disconnected, and as a result, people lose their ability to think clearly and remember things. We’re demonstrating that exercise training strengthens these connections.”
The study builds upon Smith’s previous research, which showed how walking may decrease cerebral blood flow and improve brain function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Thirty-three participants, who ranged between 71 and 85 years old, walked while supervised on a treadmill four days a week for 12 weeks. Before and after this exercise regimen, researchers asked participants to read a short story and then repeat it out loud with as many details as possible.
Participants also underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) so researchers could measure changes in communication within and between the three brain networks that control cognitive function: the default mode network, the frontoparietal network, and the salience network.
The default mode network activates when a person isn’t doing a specific task and is connected to the hippocampus, one of the first brain regions affected by Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also where Alzheimer’s and amyloid plaques, a prime suspect for Alzheimer’s disease found around nerve cells, show up in tests. The frontoparietal network regulates decisions made when a person is completing a task and also involves memory. The salience network monitors the external world and stimuli and then decides what deserves attention. It also facilitates switching between networks to optimize performance.
After 12 weeks of exercise, researchers repeated the tests and saw significant improvements. The study’s findings suggest that exercise can improve brain function and strengthen the connections between the brain’s networks, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
At the end of the day, this study provides further evidence of the benefits of exercise on brain health, particularly in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Walking, a low-impact form of exercise, can improve brain function and strengthen connections within and between the brain’s networks, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. As such, incorporating regular exercise into our daily routines can be an effective way to maintain brain health and cognitive function as we age.
