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Dementia studies hail the benefits of exercise

WASHINGTON - Exercise may do more than keep a healthy brain fit: New research suggests working up a good sweat may also offer some help once memory starts to slide - and even improve life for people with Alzheimer's.

WASHINGTON - Exercise may do more than keep a healthy brain fit: New research suggests working up a good sweat may also offer some help once memory starts to slide - and even improve life for people with Alzheimer's.

The effects were modest, but a series of studies reported Thursday found vigorous workouts by people with mild memory impairment decreased levels of a warped protein linked to risk of Alzheimer's.

"Regular aerobic exercise could be a fountain of youth for the brain," said cognitive neuroscientist Laura Baker of Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina, who reported some of the research at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.

Exercise is good for the heart, which in turn is good for the brain. Lots of research shows physical activity can improve cognition in healthy older people, potentially lowering their risk of developing dementia.

With no medications yet available that can slow Alzheimer's creeping brain destruction, the new findings point to lifestyle changes that might make a difference after memory impairment begins as well. The caveat: Check with a doctor to determine what's safe, especially if the person already has Alzheimer's.

How much exercise? In studies from North Carolina, Denmark, and Canada, people got 45 minutes to an hour of aerobic exercise three or four times a week, compared with seniors who stuck with their usual schedule. Baker studied 71 previously sedentary older adults who have hard-to-spot memory changes called mild cognitive impairment that can increase risk of developing Alzheimer's. They wore monitors to be sure the exercisers raised their heart rate enough and that the control group kept their heart rate low while doing simple stretch classes.

MRI scans showed the exercisers experienced increased blood flow in brain regions important for memory and thought processing - while cognitive tests showed a corresponding improvement in their attention, planning, and organizing abilities, Baker reported. Later this year, Baker will begin a national study that will test 18 months of exercise in people with mild cognitive impairment.