A Canadian study found that being sedentary makes a person as vulnerable to dementia as people with genetic predisposition.
According to neurologist Alexander Parajeles, it has been seen that exercising becomes a preventive protection, not only against Alzheimer’s but also in some early stages of other cognitive diseases.
In people who exercise, in a programmed way and according to their physical condition, it has been seen that, in a cerebral level, there are several ways to be protected against these diseases. With diseases like Alzheimer’s, as the disease progresses, the hippocampus is reduced and it atrophies. In people who exercise, the hippocampus does not reduce as fast as in people who do not,
declared the specialist.
According to Parajeles, another benefit is that cardiovascular exercise will also help the brain, providing it oxygen and better blood circulation.
25% of what the heart pumps goes to the brain. So if you have a cardiovascular condition that allows an adequate irrigation and a good oxygenation of our brain, you will get the nutrients that the brain needs,
informed Parajeles.
The study evaluated 1,600 people aged 65 years old or more. Those who had a sedentary life seemed to have the same risk of developing dementia as those who carried the genetic mutation of apolipoprotein E (APOE).
This mutation is the most potent genetic risk factor for vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease and, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, they saw that those who exercised seemed to have a lower probability of developing dementia.