Study shows exercising may help to combat Alzheimer's / LJWorld.com

Lawrence and Douglas county

By Mark Vierthaler

July 15, 2008

Advertisement

Alzheimer's patients who were in better physical shape than their peers were shown to have a larger brain, according to a study by a Kansas University Medical Center physician/researcher.

A study group of 121 people over age 60, 57 of whom were in the early stages of Alzheimer's, were given a one-time physical fitness test. Those who were less physically fit had four times more brain shrinkage when compared with those who were in better shape, according Dr. Jeffrey Burns of KUMC, who performed the study.

Burns said evidence shows that brain shrinkage can be tied to cognitive difficulties. It is possible then, he said, that exercising could prevent even more shrinkage, combating dementia.

"It doesn't prove it," he said. "But we know that exercise helps with general health and depression, and it may help with cognition."

Dr. John Hart, medical science director for the University of Texas at Dallas' Center for BrainHealth, said the results of the study provided an important piece of the dementia puzzle.

"Now we need to look further and figure out what exercise is doing to the brain and what parts of the brain it's helping to not decline," he said.

Burns cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from the study, as the results came from a one-time test. The next step, he said, is to do a larger study over a period of two years.

Burns' findings will appear today in Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology's journal.

More like this

Study: Mild memory impairment may be early Alzheimer's disease March 8, 2005
Variety may diminish dementia May 1, 2005
New research shows exercise can help delay onset of dementia January 17, 2006
Alzheimer’s drugs double death risk in elderly January 9, 2009
Drug shows promise treating advanced Alzheimer's disease April 3, 2003

Top ads RSS

Top jobs · Top rentals · Top transportation

Marketplace

Sport & Spine Chiropractic 785-856-2273

Find more businesses on Marketplace

Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services

Blog: We Noticed November 19, 2009 · 116 comments
Mangino denies validity of former player allegations November 19, 2009 · 157 comments
Blog: Palin Book Could Be Your Cheapest Source For Winter Fuel November 20, 2009 · 57 comments
Lawrence couple excel in triathlons November 21, 2009 · 1 comment
On the street: Will you miss ‘The Oprah Winfrey’ show? November 21, 2009 · 2 comments
No busker ban November 21, 2009 · 1 comment
Blog: Why Do People Repeat Falsehoods? November 20, 2009 · 47 comments
KU's Chancellor issues statement putting support behind Lew Perkins November 20, 2009 · 37 comments
Lawrence man charged in hit-and-run accident that killed bicyclist November 19, 2009 · 109 comments
Not-so-gentle reign November 19, 2009 · 133 comments

Phillips County businesses create own hamburger October 2, 2003
Commission votes against including gender identity in Lawrence's anti-discrimination policy November 19, 2009
CLARENCE E. RINKE OBITUARY October 19, 1999
New, legal, drug has law enforcement concerned — and it's already on a Lawrence store's shelves November 4, 2009
KU's Chancellor issues statement putting support behind Lew Perkins November 20, 2009
Farmers' Turnpike reopens after four months of construction November 20, 2009
KU student pushes button that demolishes a portion of the Kansas Turnpike bridge November 19, 2009
A sad story November 19, 2009
Sexual healing: Dennis Dailey coaches couples with tough love at his intimacy workshop November 20, 2009
Salvation Army has high hopes for Red Kettle campaign, despite slow start November 20, 2009