Exercise preserves connections in the brain, providing protection against Alzheimer's disease.
A growing body of evidence indicates that exercise supports cognitive health throughout the lifespan, even into one’s later years. Scientists don’t fully understand the mechanisms that drive the beneficial effects of exercise, but some studies suggest that it increases brain volume, while others suggest that it reduces the brain’s toxic burden. Findings from a recent study suggest that exercise maintains synapses in the brains of older adults.
Synapses are junctions between neighboring neurons, where the exchange of electrical signals and neuronal communication occurs. Synaptic formation and integrity are necessary for the establishment and maintenance of the brain’s neural networks and the precision of its circuitry. The loss of synapses promotes the collapse of neural networks important for memory and cognition and drive the dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Key players in synaptic integrity are synaptic proteins, which play critical roles in neurotransmission and neuronal development.
The investigators drew on data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, an ongoing study of aging and Alzheimer’s disease among older adults. More than 400 older adults participated in the study. They wore activity monitors to track their movement and exercise throughout the day for up to 10 days. They also agreed to donate their brains upon their death for postmortem evaluation, during which the investigators measured the presence of synaptic proteins in the participants' brain tissue.
Enjoying this research? Get deeper insights like this delivered every other week.
Every other week our Premium Members receive deep dives like this alongside Rhonda's commentary and 8+ other hand-picked papers.
They found that older adults who exercised regularly had higher levels of synaptic proteins in their brains. The proteins were present in multiple brain regions, including areas involved in memory and cognitive function, and were highest when activity levels were measured within two years of death, suggesting that without sufficient exercise, the proteins diminished over time.
These findings suggest that exercise preserves synaptic integrity via enhanced production of synaptic proteins, potentially providing protection against Alzheimer’s disease. Learn how exercise affects other aspects of brain health in this episode featuring Dr. Giselle Petzinger.