{"id":4981,"date":"2025-04-08T10:53:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T10:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/4981\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T10:53:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T10:53:10","slug":"the-twice-weekly-exercise-shown-to-help-protect-older-people-from-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/4981\/","title":{"rendered":"The twice-weekly exercise shown to \u2018help protect older people from dementia\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

GETTING your body moving is a key way to keep dementia at bay.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But lowering your risk of the brain-robbing disease<\/a> might not take as much exercise<\/a> as you’d think, new research reveals.<\/p>\n

\"Senior<\/a><\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

Lifting iron might help protect older people from dementiaCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Weight training just twice a week helps protect older people from dementia<\/a>, Brazilian researchers say. <\/p>\n

Volunteers with mild cognitive impairment who practiced strength training showed improvements in memory and brain anatomy after six months, they said.<\/p>\n

Weight training<\/a> has been previously shown to improve strength and muscle mass, reduce body fat<\/a>, and contribute to wellbeing<\/a> and mental health.<\/p>\n

Now a new study conducted at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) suggests it protects the brains of older people against dementia.<\/p>\n

The study involved 44 people with mild cognitive impairment<\/a> – a clinical condition between normal ageing and Alzheimer’s disease<\/a> in which cognitive decline is greater than expected for age, indicating a higher risk of dementia.<\/p>\n

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. <\/p>\n

It is thought to be caused by build-ups of proteins in the brain, including tau and amyloid. <\/p>\n

Previous studies have suggested that viral infections, like\u00a0flu\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0herpes<\/a>\u00a0and even a severe case of Covid<\/a>, may increase the risk of dementia.<\/p>\n

The latest study, published in the journal GeroScience, showed that strength training not only improved memory performance but also altered brain anatomy.<\/p>\n

After six months of twice-weekly weight training, the participants showed protection against atrophy in the hippocampus and precuneus – brain areas associated with Alzheimer’s<\/a> – as well as improvements in parameters that reflect the health of neurons.<\/p>\n

Five simple tests that could indicate dementia<\/p>\n

Study first author Dr Isadora Ribeiro, of UNICAMP’s School of Medical Sciences (FCM), said: “We already knew that there would be physical improvement.<\/p>\n

“Cognitive improvement was also imagined, but we wanted to see the effect of weight training on the brains of older people with mild cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n

“The study showed that, fortunately, weight training is a strong ally against dementia, even for people who are already at high risk of developing it.”<\/p>\n

The research is the first to demonstrate what happens to the integrity of the white matter of people with mild cognitive impairment after weight training.<\/p>\n

Study supervisor Professor Marcio Balthazar said: “It’s [weight training] a less complex and cheaper treatment that can protect people from serious diseases.<\/p>\n

“For example, the new anti-amyloid drugs approved in the United States indicated for the treatment of dementia and for people with mild cognitive impairment, cost around US $30,000 (around \u00a323,444) a year.<\/p>\n

Best diet for your brain<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The MIND diet combines the Mediterranean and DASH diets, focusing on plant-based foods, healthy fats, fish, and reducing sodium and saturated fat to protect brain health and potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.<\/p>\n

Foods include:<\/p>\n