Alzheimer's disease -- a chronic form of dementia, which results
in severe memory loss and eventually death -- is a progressive disorder
for which there are minimal therapeutics that affect the underlying
disease mechanism.
However, epidemiological studies have suggested lifestyle changes
may slow down the onset and progression of Alzheimer's ... specifically,
regular exercise.
According to researchers, a regular exercise program can slow the
development of Alzheimer's by altering the way damaging proteins
reside in the brain. Studies on mice helped support a growing body
of evidence that keeping busy (both physically and mentally), as
well as eating certain foods, can delay or prevent Alzheimer's.
The Study
Scientists analyzed the effect of excess clogging due to plaque
buildup in the brain -- the signature physical sign of Alzheimer's
-- after three months on genetically engineered mice. Half the mice
were put in cages with running wheels, while the other half were
cooped up with no outlet or exercise wheels.
Researchers observed:
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Mice allowed to exercise learned to navigate a water maze faster
than mice that were kept cooped up.
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Significantly fewer plaques and fewer bits of beta-amyloid
peptides, associated with Alzheimer's, were found in mice that
exercised.
Findings suggest a simple behavioral strategy such as exercise,
dancing or even walking can trigger a change (as seen in the mice)
in the way the amyloid precursor protein is metabolized, thus, slowing
down the onset and progression of Alzheimer's.
Journal
of Neuroscience April 27, 2005;25:4217-4221
Reuters
April 27, 2005
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