In rich countries, 1 in 3 people aged 85 are at risk of developing dementia. Faced with the increasing prevalence of dementia, the study once again highlights the particular impact of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT) which helps maintain brain function in older people up to 5 years old. It thus joins previous research which has demonstrated that exercise activates stem cells and increases the production of neurons in the hippocampus, which improves cognition.
Lead author Dr. Perry Bartlett emphasizes here the double effect of intense and interval exerciseboth an effect of stimulation of cognition in healthy elderly people but also a lasting delay in cognitive decline.
The study, longitudinal, conducted by brain scintigraphy, followed participants, aged 65 to 85, invited to practice physical training of 3 types or intensity levels for 6 months:
- Low – mainly motor function, balance and stretching
- Medium: brisk walking on a treadmill
- High HIIT type: i.e., per session, 4 cycles of running on a treadmill with maximum effort
The team conducted biomarker testing and participants took cognitive tests and underwent brain scans. Data analysis confirms that:
- only high-intensity interval exercises lead to cognitive improvement that is maintained for 5 years;
- in the participants of the HIIT group, structural and connectivity changes are observed in the hippocampus, the area responsible for learning and memory;
- among these same participants, an increase in blood biomarkers correlated with improved cognition is also observed.
“If we can change the trajectory of aging and keep people cognitively healthier for longer
through a simple intervention like exercise,
“We will be able to save ourselves and our societies from enormous personal disability and the considerable economic and social impact associated with dementia.”
Research continues on Genetic factors that may play a role in a person’s response to exercise and on the development of a diagnostic tool for the personal effects of exercise.
Health
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