Reference News Network, July 31 report - According to the website of the US cable news network CNN, a new study shows that daily walking can reduce the risk of cognitive decline, especially for those with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease.
A research report to be submitted at the annual Alzheimer's Association International Conference on the 29th states that about 3,000 participants aged 70 to 79 reported their daily walking habits over the past 10 years. Those who claimed to have maintained or increased their walking habits showed greater improvements in brain processing speed and executive function.
The preprint of this research report, which has not been peer-reviewed or published in a professional journal, states that the benefits of walking are particularly evident in those with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease.
Cindy Baker, the first author of the research report and an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary in Canada, said: "We know that as people age, sedentary behavior increases and physical activity decreases. So, we recommend that you reduce sedentary behavior and take a few steps when you have to sit."
A 2022 study found that people who walked about 3,800 steps per day at any pace had a 25% lower risk of developing dementia.
What is happening between the brain and other parts of the body? Experts have several theories.
Baker explained that one theory is that it has been proven that regular exercise helps the body produce more of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which acts like fertilizer for the brain, helping it generate more cells and establish new connections.
She said: "We believe that proteins released by muscles travel to the brain, either crossing the blood-brain barrier or within it, triggering a reaction that ultimately increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the brain."
Another theory is that exercise reduces neuroinflammation, which is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
Christiana Lane, associate professor of cardiovascular research at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said that the brain sends immune cells called microglia to attack plaques that accumulate, but this may backfire. Long-term inflammation could cause microglia to start attacking healthy brain cells, thereby damaging the brain's connections. Lane said: "If you exercise, you actually enhance the gene expression programs needed for microglia to function properly."
She said: "It's never too late to start exercising. Every step counts, and it's better to develop an exercise plan that you truly enjoy and can stick to." (Translated by Yang Xinpeng)
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533155468466766370/
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