Published
New research finds that a 6-month regimen of aerobic exercise can reverse symptoms of mild cognitive impairment in older adults.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a mild loss of cognitive abilities, such as memory and reasoning skills.
A person with MCI may find it hard to remember things, make decisions, or focus on tasks.
While the loss of cognitive abilities is not serious enough to interfere with daily activities, MCI raises the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
While the loss of cognitive abilities is not serious enough to interfere with daily activities, MCI raises the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, 15–20 percent of adults aged 65 and over in the United States have MCI.
New research suggests that there might be a way to reverse these age-related cognitive problems. James A. Blumenthal, Ph.D. — of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC — and colleagues examined the effects of regimented exercise in 160 people aged 65 on average.
They published their findings in the journal Neurology.
Studying exercise, diet, and MCI
The participants included in the research were sedentary at the beginning of the study. They had cardiovascular risk factors and reported symptoms of MCI.
The researchers wanted to investigate the impact of both physical activity and diet on cognitive abilities.
The participants followed the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The DASH diet consists of high-fiber, low-sodium foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, grains, and lean meat, as well as low-fat dairy.
