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Brain shrinkage accelerates without exercise

It’s common knowledge that a lack of exercise increases one’s risk of dying early. Now scientists believe those who exercise during middle age and beyond may have healthier brains 20 years later, and conversely, the brains of couch potatoes shrink as time goes by. The study appeared Feb. 10 in the journal Neurology.
The new study, also published Feb. 10 in Live Science, involves research spanning two decades, a significant course of time experts say is beneficial to solid research. The research shows that the brains of people who do not exercise not only dulls, but shrinks as we age. The shrinkage is rather small but is significant to the affected. Researchers hope the new study will drive home the message that exercising and staying fit throughout the middle years, if not lifelong, affects brain health later on. The findings show that a lack of exercise over a lifetime can increase memory loss and risk of dementia.
The research team led by Nicole Spartano, a postdoctoral fellow at Boston University School of Medicine, used data from approximately 1,100 Framingham participants who underwent a vigorous treadmill test and MRI scan when they were about 40 years old and another recently. The team based its research on a study of thousands of ordinary people spanning 70 years and three generations.
In short, researchers conducted a treadmill test on all participants to gather information about their physical fitness as it affects the brain and heart health. Essentially they measured how long participants were able to remain on the treadmill before their heart rate reached 85 percent of their estimated maximum heart rate. This endurance scale was used to estimate VO2 max, the maximum amount of oxygen one’s body can use in one minute.
For comparison, the average healthy person has a peak VO2 of about 30 to 40 mL/kg/min (milliliters of oxygen per kilogram body weight per minute) while elite athletes can have twice this rate. Increases in participant’s blood pressures and heart rates were measured throughout the time they spent on treadmills. Those with lower estimated VO2 max, higher blood pressure and who experienced the greatest increase in heart rate during exercise all experienced greater brain shrinkage 20 years later.
While previous studies have shown that physical exercise among the elderly reduces the risk of memory loss and dementia, the new study shows that a lack of exercise during the middle years actually shrinks the brain enough to depreciate or limit its ability to function late in life.
“Atrophy correlates with fewer [brain] cells and less rich synaptic connections,” said Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a professor at Boston University School of Medicine and senior author on the report. According to Seshadri , because the study had the benefit of tracking so many people for so long in a well-controlled setting, adds to the credibility of its findings. In the end the message is simple and forthright: if you exercise, don’t stop; if you don’t exercise, start, after getting the all clear from a qualified physician.

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