Physical Activity in Alzheimer Disease

Rohaan Syan, Dr. Michael Roman and Dr. Elizabeth O’Mahony 

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors including diet and nutrition. But did you know that regular physical activity has an effect on delaying cognitive decline with Alzheimer’s Disease? There are billions of neurons in your brain, which are nerve cells that send signals all over the body which help with our functionality. With Alzheimer’s disease, people develop toxic proteins in the brain called β-amyloid proteins which can form “plaques.” These plaques can clump up between neurons, making it harder for them to send signals throughout the body.

Effects of Exercise 

Exercise has countless positive effects on the brain such as increased serotonin which can increase your mood! Just one year of exercising alone for 20-30 minutes a day leads to small increases in the size of the hippocampus, which is the key part in the brain involved in memory. This is about the same effect as reversing 1-2 years of age-related brain shrinking. Physical activity can also increase the number of neurons, blood vessels, and neuronal connections in the brain. 

Where do I start? 

Always check with your family physician before beginning on your exercise journey. Aim for at least 20-30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per day, depending on your fitness level. For beginners, any form of physical activity is fantastic, including things like walking and swimming. Ideally, you want to do resistance (strength) training with aerobic sessions (cardio). Yoga is also an excellent activity to improve brain health, as studies say that it may be just as effective as aerobic exercise. Research studies have shown that physical activity can decrease memory loss with Alzheimer's disease. 

 Important Takeaways 

There are lifestyle changes that you can make to delay cognitive decline with Alzheimer’s. Having at least 20-30 minutes of daily aerobic physical activity or strength training improves brain health, keeping you healthy. Always check with your family physician before embarking on your exercise journey and take the first step toward a healthier brain – adjust your lifestyle to change your mind for the better!