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Aerobic exercise could keep aging brains young
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A new study shows that aerobic exercise may keep elderly brains young. The findings provide the groundwork for further studies. Engaging in regular aerobic exercise might reverse changes that occur in anatomy and blood flow to the brain that occur with aging. Aerobic exercise may be the fountain of youth when it comes to brain health.
Researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine looked at the brains of active elders, comparing imaging studies to older adults who were not physically active. They found that the blood vessels of aerobically fit were comparable to those of young adults, compared to an inactive group.
The scientists used non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) angiography to compare the brains of two groups of older adults to find the positive effect of aerobic exercise for keeping the brain young.
One group exercised 180 minutes a week for the past ten years. The other group spent less than 90 minutes a week performing any sort of aerobic activity. The aerobically active group had a greater number of small diameter blood vessels, with less tortuosity, than the group who did not exercise - findings that might be expected in the brains of young adults.
Aging is naturally associated with blood vessels that become stiff and twisted. Healthy blood vessels that supply blood flow to the brain are an important part of staying mentally sharp and active with aging.
The study is a pilot effort to find out if older individuals with young brains are just more inclined to perform aerobic exercise, or whether aerobic exercse can reverse changes in cerebrovascular blood vessels that supply the brain and occur with aging.
It may be possible that aerobic fitness keeps the brain young in addition to all the other known benefits. Further studies will define whether we can also reverse the effects of aging on the brain by remaining aerobically fit.
Source: http://www.unchealthcare.org/site/newsroom/news/2009/June/bullitt
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