According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia—a condition characterized by progressive declines in memory, language cababilites, and mood. While dementia becomes more common with age, it’s not considered a normal part of aging. Although there’s no cure yet, research continues to reveal lifestyle choices that may lower the risk.
One surprising contender? Weight training. A recent study suggests that resistance workouts may not only help protect the brain from dementia but could also ease symptoms in people already experiencing mild cognitive decline.
To discover the benefits of resistance training on aging adults, researchers recruited 44 individuals aged 55 and older, all diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. They were divided into two groups: a weight training group and a control group.
The weight training group participated in a resistance exercise program with moderate to high-intensity sessions twice weekly, progressively overloading throughout the 24 weeks. The control group didn't exercise for the duration of the study.
“Research has shown that greater muscle strength is associated with a lower risk of dementia and better cognitive function," Isadora Ribeiro, PhD, the study's head researcher, told Medical News Today. Therefore, investigating the impact of resistance training on the brain anatomy of older adults at risk for dementia is a promising and relevant approach."
At the end of the six-month study, the researchers found that participants in the weight training group showed improvements in verbal episodic memory (a memory of an event or personal experience). They also had improvements in specific neurons and regions of the brain commonly impacted by cognitive decline.
On the other hand, individuals in the control group saw no improvement, and key brain functions continued to worsen.
“Even in a small sample, the fact that several participants showed improved cognitive health after the intervention is a hopeful indication of the potential protective effects of this type of exercise,” Ribeiro said.