Age-Related Changes in the Brain Slowed With Fitness
Being more physically fit appears to slow down damage to the brain’s memory centers in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers conducted brain scans on adults over the age of 60 who were in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, along with 56 who did not have any dementia. Alzheimer’s patients who were more physically fit exhibited less of a decrease in the volume of the brain’s memory areas than those who were less fit.
Prior research has suggested that remaining physically active slows the rate of age-related cognitive decline in people without dementia.
“The message is essentially if you have Alzheimer’s disease, it’s not too late to become physically fit,” said Sam Gandy, chairman of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council.
