Wised up to walking
[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 3, No. 8
13 October - 10 November 2008 ] By Janine Sim-Jones
Walking for two and a half hours a week can significantly improve memory problems in the over-50s, according to a new study.
The study, led by the newly-appointed Chair of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, Professor Nicola T Lautenschlager, was published in the international Journal of the American Medical Association last month.
The Fitness for the Ageing Brain Study, conducted over 18 months at the University of Western Australia, is believed to be the first in the world to demonstrate that moderate exercise can positively affect cognitive function.
Professor Lautenschlager describes the results as very promising.
“We found the improvement in memory occurred not only during the six month trial but also six and 12 months after completion of the supervised physical activity program,” she says.
“We have known for a long time that exercise is a great way to improve cardiovascular health, but it may be that in future exercise can also be recommended to protect against the ageing brain.”
The trial divided into two groups 170 people who had reported memory problems but did not meet criteria for dementia.
One group continued their usual activities, the other took part in an 24-weeks home-based physical activity program with the aim to walk three 50-minute sessions or participate in other moderate exercise each week.
Participants in the exercise group did an average of 142 more minutes in a week, or 20 minutes in a day, than those in the control group. Professor Lautenschlager said by the end of the study, participants in the exercise group performed better on cognitive tests and had better delayed recall. They also had lower Clinical Dementia Rating Scores.
“We believe this trial is the first to demonstrate that exercise can improve cognitive function in older adults at risk,” Professor Lautenschlager says.
“Unlike medication, which was found to have no significant effect on mild cognitive impairment, physical activity has the advantage of other health benefits such as preventing depression, quality of life, falls, cardiovascular function and disability.”
More than 26 million people worldwide (including 200 000 in Australia) have dementia. This is expected to grow to 106.2 million worldwide by 2050.
Professor Lautenschlager said if onset of dementia could be delayed by 12 months, there would be 9.2 million fewer cases worldwide.
The research was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
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