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New Research Indicates Possible Delay With Physical Fitness

Kansas-Those individuals that have Alzheimer’s disease, or individuals who are at risk may experience a delay of symptoms or onset of the disease if they are more physically active, according to a new study.

The physical activity appears to keep the brain stimulated, and the blood flowing more swiftly, leading to better circulation, and better overall brain function.

The new study is being reported in the health journal Neurology, and is the result of research done at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

The main author and researcher, Dr. Jeffrey Burns of the University of Kansas School of Medicine wanted to see if increased exercise levels could give any assistance in preserving the functioning of brain and mental responses.

People with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease were encouraged to exercise and stay active, and this was the first time this particular theory has been tested.

The study involved looking at 121 different people, all over the age of 60, and about 50 percent of them had early stage Alzheimer’s disease.

The patients were examined for their level of fitness and compared to people for the same age and health that did not have any sign of dementia.

Those people that had better physical fitness had at least 4 times less shrinkage and brain affected dementia than those that were less physically fit.