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Exercise & the Elderly Brain

May 26, 2011 | By Dean A. Haycock, Ph.D.
Exercise & the Elderly Brain
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Experiments clearly suggests that exercise leading to improved physical fitness can change both the structure and function of the brains of older animals, according to Arthur F. Kramer and colleagues, who published their findings in the August 2003 issue of the "Journal of Molecular Neuroscience." Further research continues to suggest that different types of exercise may improve brain function and cognitive skills in older humans as well.

Effect on Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment is a condition that often appears before the full-blown symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It does not interfere with most everyday activities but does make it difficult to remember appointments and details surrounding recent conversations or other activities. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic reported at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Chicago on April 16, 2008, that regular exercise may help slow the appearance, or protect against the development, of mild cognitive impairment in elderly individuals.

Effect of Cardiovascular Exercise on Brain Volume

Two years earlier, Stanley J. Colcombe and his fellow researchers reported evidence that six months of regular aerobic exercise prevented age-associated decrease in brain volume and even increased it in some areas in aged individuals. Their article, published in the November 2006 issue of "The Journal of Gerontology, Medical Sciences," noted that the changes were seen in older adults who performed aerobic exercises but not in those who did nonaerobic exercises such as stretching and toning.

Effect of Juggling on Brain Volume

One nonaerobic exercise that might have a positive effect on the brain is juggling, according to researchers who described their findings in the July 2008 issue of "The Journal of Neuroscience." The researchers found that when elderly individuals practiced this hand-eye coordination exercise, they experienced changes in brain structure in a part of the visual cortex and, transiently, in the hippocampus, a structure closely associated with learning.

Exercise and Neurogenesis

Exercise may promote the growth and survival of new neurons in the brains of older individuals who exercise, according to James D. Churchill and co-authors of a review article in the September 2002 issue of the "Journal Neurobiology of Aging." They cite evidence that increased fitness may maintain or enhance brain function in the frontal lobe and in the hippocampus. According to Churchill and associates, animal studies suggest that physical activity may improve circulation while changes in brain cells may reflect a learning process.

References

Article reviewed by David Fisher Last updated on: May 26, 2011

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