Exercise during midlife comparing with exercise during late life
Most of the studies into the protective effects of exercise against cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, followed the elderly people starting their 65s and watched the results, which were relevant to the beneficial effects in late life. However, there are some results where a large cohort of 65-79-year olds has been followed-up for around 21 years so information about physical activity during midlife was available. Those who who participated in at least “leisure-time physical activity” during midlife had significantly lower risks of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease comparing with those who did not exercise at all [1].
Another study has suggested that physical activity at even earlier ages (physical activity between ages 15 and 25 years was asked retrospectively) can improve or preserve cognitive ability in late life [2]. This cognitive decline risk reduction is at least comparable to the eisks reduction reported in studies of physical activity in older persons. Thus, midlife physical activity might be as important for preventing later cognitive decline as is physical activity at older ages.
Sources
- Rovio S, et al. Leisure-time physical activity at midlife and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet Neurol 2005;4:705–11
- Dik M, Deeg DJ, Visser M, Jonker C. Early life physical activity and cognition at old age. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2003;25:643–53
How can calorie restriction improve brain function
Researchers at the Internal Medicine & Gerontology and INSERM, Toulouse, France pointed to an array of ways that hopefully can lead to real managing of age-related diseases of the brain. They all concern calorie restriction. Thus, according to the review published by the Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, calorie restriction (CR) can protect the brain by the following mechanisms:
1. It’s a new way to improve brain health via induction of neurogenesis
2. It affects the risk for neurodegenerative disorders by increasing resistance to oxidative, metabolic or excitotoxic injuries
3. It results particularly in the upregulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampal and cortical neurons of rats and mice, which may protect neurons against excitotoxic, oxidative and metabolic insults
4. It may prevent beta-amyloid neuropathology
5. It promote neuronal plasticity
The authors conclude: “It is now well established that caloric restriction could be used to promote successful brain aging. Data from randomized controlled trials in humans are limited. No positive effect on cognitive impairment was found probably due to methodological limitations. The long-term effects of caloric restriction in adults must be clarified before engaging in such preventive strategy. Additional animal studies must be conducted in the future to test the effects of ‘multidomain’ interventions (caloric restriction plus regular exercise) on age-related cognitive decline”
Source:
S. Gillette-Guyonneta, and B. VellasaCaloric restriction and brain function. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care 2008, 11:686–692
Researchers at the Internal Medicine & Gerontology and INSERM, Toulouse, France pointed to an array of ways that hopefully can lead to a real management of age-related diseases of the brain. They all concern calorie restriction. Thus, according to the review published by the Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, calorie restriction (CR) can protect the brain by the following mechanisms:
1. It’s a new way to improve brain health via induction of neurogenesis
2. It affects the risk for neurodegenerative disorders by increasing resistance to oxidative, metabolic or excitotoxic injuries
3. It results particularly in the upregulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampal and cortical neurons of rats and mice, which may protect neurons against excitotoxic, oxidative and metabolic insults
4. It may prevent beta-amyloid neuropathology
5. It promotes neuronal plasticity
The authors conclude: “It is now well established that caloric restriction could be used to promote successful brain aging. Data from randomized controlled trials in humans are limited. No positive effect on cognitive impairment was found probably due to methodological limitations. The long-term effects of caloric restriction in adults must be clarified before engaging in such preventive strategy. Additional animal studies must be conducted in the future to test the effects of ‘multidomain’ interventions (caloric restriction plus regular exercise) on age-related cognitive decline”
Source:
S. Gillette-Guyonneta, and B. VellasaCaloric restriction and brain function. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care 2008, 11:686–692
