Regular exercise shows promise in managing mild cognitive impairment, according to industry experts.
Fresh Take:
Same ol' advice, but now with a twist: Exercise is still recommended for brain health, even if it can't cure MCI with drugs.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recently revised their guidelines on managing MCI, and guess what they suggest? Yep, exercise! After reviewing studies, the AAN says regular physical activity could potentially boost cognitive functions.
MCI, a condition that affects thinking and memory, gets more common with age and could lead to dementia. Over the first year after diagnosis, people aged 65 and up who have MCI have a 7.5% chance of developing dementia. By the third year, that risk jumps to about 20%.
While there's no solid proof that prescription medications or diets can treat MCI, the AAN encourages patients to stay active, both physically and mentally. Regular check-ups for dementia symptoms are also important to catch any progression early.
Dr. Ronald C. Petersen, leading author of the updated guideline and an AAN Fellow, says it's crucial to diagnose MCI early so symptoms don't worsen. He also points out that symptoms resembling MCI could be due to treatable problems like depression, medication side effects, or sleep disturbances.
The updated guideline advises that clinicians recommend exercise as part of an overall MCI management strategy. Some research indicates that regular exercise twice a week can enhance memory in people with MCI. The guideline also suggests cognitive training, but the evidence supporting its benefits is weak.
In other words, keep moving to boost your brain power and stay healthy overall. And if you're dealing with MCI, be sure to work with your doctor to determine the root cause and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Exercise and Brain Health: The Science Behind It
Regular physical activity is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for people with MCI. Here's what the research shows:
Exercise Benefits
- Cognitive Stability: Study results suggest that both low and high-intensity exercise can help stabilize cognitive function in older adults with MCI.
- Improvement in Cognitive Domains: Regular exercise enhances general cognition, memory, and executive function across various populations.
- Complementary to Diet: Exercise combined with specific dietary interventions, like B vitamins or ketogenic diets, can potentially contribute to better cognitive outcomes.
Comparison to Approved Drugs or Other Treatments
- Effectiveness and Safety: Exercise is generally safer and has fewer side effects compared to many pharmaceutical interventions. It can be customized to an individual's capacity and health status.
- Comprehensive Health Benefits: Exercise provides a wide range of health benefits beyond cognitive improvement, including cardiovascular health, weight management, and improved mental well-being.
- Long-term Viability: Exercise can be sustained as a lifestyle change over long periods, potentially offering long-term cognitive benefits without continuous medication.
Limitations and Future Directions
- Standardization: More research is needed to standardize exercise protocols for MCI to ensure their consistency and applicability across different populations.
- Combination Therapy: Studies should explore the potential benefits of combining exercise with approved treatments or other interventions, like cognitive training, to enhance cognitive outcomes.
- For individuals with MCI, regular physical activity, such as low and high-intensity exercise, may help stabilize cognitive function.
- Exercise can enhance various cognitive domains, including general cognition, memory, and executive function, across various populations.
- Combining exercise with specific dietary interventions, like B vitamins or ketogenic diets, could potentially lead to better cognitive outcomes.
- Exercise offers comprehensive health benefits beyond cognitive improvement, including cardiovascular health, weight management, and improved mental well-being, making it generally safer and more advantageous compared to many pharmaceutical interventions. Furthermore, exercise can be sustained as a lifestyle change over long periods, offering potential long-term cognitive benefits without the need for continuous medication. However, more research is needed to standardize exercise protocols for MCI and to explore its combined effects with approved treatments or other interventions.
