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Aerobics resulted in significant improvements in thinking skills in people with dementia
People with early signs of vascular dementia seem to gain little improvement in general thinking ability by doing aerobic exercise. Researchers have now found that cognitive enhancements continue for as long as affected people continue with the exercises.
The researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver found in their study that aerobic exercise leads to an improvement of thought processes. This could help reduce the likelihood of developing dementia, especially in older people with early signs of vascular dementia. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Neurology".
Physicians found that older people with early signs of vascular dementia should do aerobics. Aerobic exercise leads to a small improvement in thinking skills. (Image: luckybusiness / fotolia.com) What causes vascular dementia??
Dementia includes deficits in cognitive, emotional and social skills. In the case of so-called vascular dementia, nerve cells are dying as a result of circulatory disorders of the brain. The more of these nerve sites die, the more pronounced the disease becomes.
Exercise programs with aerobics improve the general thinking skills
The clinical study examined two groups of older people. The experts were able to determine that a training program with aerobic exercise leads to small improvements in the general thinking abilities compared to people who did not practice such a program. However, the positive effects only last as long as those affected continue their exercises, explain the authors.
Circulatory problems in the brain can lead to vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. The disease affects about 150,000 people in the UK alone. It causes memory loss, speech problems, and general thinking difficulties, explain the experts. The condition occurs when there are problems with the circulation of the brain.
Subjects attended an aerobics class for six months
The study included 70 subjects with a mean age of 74 years. Half of these participants participated in one-hour aerobic exercise, which took place three times a week, explain the doctors. The course went over a six-month period. The other half of the subjects were strictly on a healthy diet.
Subjects were examined several times for the study
All subjects were examined before the study. Another study took place immediately after the end of the study. One last time the subjects were examined six months after the end of the study, explain the scientists. The investigations concerned overarching thinking, leadership skills (planning and organization) and coping with everyday tasks.
Aerobics improved thinking skills and decreased blood pressure
The results of the study showed that subjects in the aerobic group had little improvement in general thinking skills, the authors explain. This improvement was 1.7 points, compared to the people in the group without aerobic exercise. The aerobic group also had lower blood pressure.
After six months without aerobics, there were no improvements
When the subjects stopped exercising for six months, no beneficial effects were observed. In addition, there was no improvement in leadership skills and day-to-day tasks through aerobics, the doctors say.
High blood pressure increases the risk of dementia
However, the exercise group had a better blood pressure control. In addition, the people in the exercise group were found to increase the distance that these subjects could go in six minutes, explain the scientists. The findings are important because high blood pressure also increases the risk of dementia. Aerobics can contribute to improving cardiovascular health, but has also been associated with a healthy brain and a reduced risk of developing dementia, the experts explain. (As)