Get ready to hit the gym and give your brain a workout as researchers have uncovered exciting evidence suggesting that resistance training could have significant implications in the battle against dementia.
The research, conducted by the Federal University of São Paulo and the University of São Paulo in Brazil, found that resistance training may have significant benefits for individuals with dementia by potentially delaying the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.
Resistance training is a form of exercise that involves working muscles against weight or force. Previous studies have also indicated that resistance training strengthens brain connections that are prone to deterioration as dementia progresses, suggesting its potential as a protective measure against dementia and symptom alleviation.
Although the study was conducted using mice, the researchers suggest that similar principles are likely to apply to humans.
Neuroscientist Henrique Correia Campos from the Federal University of São Paulo UNIFESP emphasised that the findings confirm the potential of physical activity to reverse neuropathological alterations associated with clinical symptoms of the disease.
In the study, mice with a genetic mutation causing the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, were subjected to a four-week resistance exercise training program involving ladders and weights.
The results showed a reduction in plaque buildup and normal levels of the stress hormone, which has been linked to Alzheimer's. The resistance training also appeared to reduce anxiety-like behaviour in the mice.
While differences between mouse and human physiology should be considered, the researchers say the study highlights the positive effects of resistance training on dementia-related symptoms.
Resistance training offers various advantages, particularly as people age. It helps increase muscle mass and strength, improves bone density, enhances balance, and facilitates everyday tasks.
The anti-inflammatory action of resistance exercise is considered a key factor in its effectiveness -but further research is needed to confirm these findings in humans.