Walking boosts brain connectivity and memory in older adults: Study

A new study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Public Health reveals that walking improves connections within and between three brain networks, including one linked to Alzheimer's disease.

This research contributes to the increasing volume of evidence indicating that exercise has positive effects on brain health.

Published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, the study examined the brains and story recollection skills of older adults exhibiting normal brain function, as well as those with mild cognitive impairment.

Mild cognitive impairment denotes a mild decline in cognitive abilities, such as memory, reasoning, and judgment, and is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

J. Carson Smith, a kinesiology professor with the School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study said, "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 current study expands on Smith's earlier investigations, which demonstrated the potential of walking to reduce cerebral blood flow and enhance brain function in older adults dealing with mild cognitive impairment.

In this particular study, a group of thirty-three participants aged between 71 and 85 years was closely supervised while walking on a treadmill four days a week over a period of 12 weeks.

Prior to commencing the exercise programme and after its completion, researchers instructed the participants to read a brief story and subsequently recall it aloud, focusing on providing as many details as they could remember.

The participants in the study also underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to enable researchers to quantify alterations in communication within and between the three brain networks responsible for cognitive function:

Default mode network: This network becomes active when an individual is not engaged in a specific task, such as daydreaming or thinking about their grocery list.

It is intricately linked to the hippocampus, one of the brain regions that experiences early effects from Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, tests often reveal the presence of Alzheimer's-related indicators like amyloid plaques, which are abnormal protein deposits surrounding nerve cells, in this network.

The frontoparietal network: This network is responsible for regulating decision-making processes when individuals are engaged in tasks. It also plays a role in memory functions.

The salience network: This network monitors external stimuli and the surrounding environment, determining what deserves attention. It also facilitates seamless transitions between different brain networks to optimize overall cognitive performance.

Following a 12-week exercise intervention, researchers conducted repeat tests and observed notable enhancements in the participants' capacity to recall the story, indicating significant improvements in their story recall abilities.

"The brain activity was stronger and more synchronized, demonstrating exercise actually can induce the brain's ability to change and adapt," said Smith.

"These results provide even more hope that exercise may be useful as a way to prevent or help stabilize people with mild cognitive impairment and maybe, over the long term, delay their conversion to Alzheimer's dementia."

(ANI)