Exercise improves blood flow in key brain areas linked to memory, imaging reveals
Following one year of aerobic exercise, older patients with memory problems showed improved blood flow in two key areas of the brain tied to memory, new research out of UT Southwestern in Dallas suggests.
That study, published May 20 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, showed more robust blood flow in both the anterior cingulate cortex and the hippocampus. While scientists have plenty of evidence on the benefits of exercise to brain health, this research tracks adults at high-risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and over a longer period of time.
It’s encouraging, says Binu Thomas, PhD, a UT Southwestern senior research scientist in neuroimaging, and proves that although an individual’s memory may be fading, there are still some things that can help.
“Perhaps we can one day develop a drug or procedure that safely targets blood flow into these brain regions,” Thomas added in a statement. “But we’re just getting started with exploring the right combination of strategies to help prevent or delay symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. There’s much more to understand about the brain and aging.”
The team documented long-term memory and cerebral blood flow in 30 patients, each 60 years or older and suffering from memory troubles. Half of the individuals completed one year of aerobic exercise training while the others worked out by stretching.
Participants in the exercise group yielded a 47% improvement in some memory scores compared to minimal gains in adults who only stretched.
The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s currently surpasses five million and is expected to triple by 2050. Methods to intervene or at least slow the slip into dementia are becoming more and more pressing, Thomas said.
“Cerebral blood flow is a part of the puzzle, and we need to continue piecing it together,” he added. “But we’ve seen enough data to know that starting a fitness program can have lifelong benefits for our brains as well as our hearts.”
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.