The practice of physical activities is one of the main medical recommendations for a long and healthy life.
A Brazilian study reveals a new reason to stay active: resistance exercises, such as weight training, can prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.
The discovery made by researchers from the Federal Universities of São Paulo (Unifesp) and São Paulo (USP) was published this Tuesday (6/6), in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience. The study was funded by the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).
Most studies on physical activity and Alzheimer's are focused on high-intensity aerobic exercise, such as running. In the Brazilian research, the scientists understood that running is very challenging for elderly patients and, therefore, decided to evaluate another type of activity.
Resistance exercise is characterized by contractions of specific muscles against external resistance. The practice contributes to the gain of muscle mass, strength and bone density. In addition, it contributes to overall body composition and functional capabilities.
study with mice
Researchers from the departments of Physiology and Psychobiology at Unifesp and Biochemistry at the Institute of Chemistry at USP (IQ-USP) used genetically modified mice to study the effects of activity on the protection of neurons against damage resulting from diseases that affect the central nervous system ( CNS).
The rodents carried a mutation responsible for the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, a typical marker of Alzheimer's patients. These proteins clump together in the CNS and disrupt synapses, causing damage to neurons.
Mice were trained to climb a ladder 110 cm high, with an incline of 80° and steps separated by 2 cm of distance, with a load attached to their tails. The weight was progressively increased – 75%, 90% and 100% of their weight – to simulate what can be done in the gym.
Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease caused by the death of brain cells that can appear decades before the first symptoms appear. ▲
Because it is a disease that tends to get worse over the years, early diagnosis is essential to delay the progression. Therefore, when presenting any symptoms of the disease, it is essential to consult a specialist. ▲
Although the symptoms are more common in people over 70 years of age, it is not uncommon for them to manifest in young people around 30. In fact, when this “premature” manifestation occurs, the condition is called early Alzheimer's. ▲
In the initial phase, a person with Alzheimer's tends to have changes in memory and starts to forget simple things, such as: where he kept his keys, what he had for breakfast, someone's name or even the season of the year. ▲
Disorientation, difficulty remembering the address where you live or the way home, difficulties in making simple decisions, such as planning what you are going to do or eat, for example, are also signs of the disease. ▲
In addition, loss of desire to perform routine tasks, change in behavior (making the person more nervous or aggressive), and repetitions are some of the most common symptoms. ▲
According to research carried out by the Alzheimer's Drugs Discovery Foundation (ADDF), the presence of damaged proteins (Amyloid and Tau), vascular diseases, neuroinflammation, failure of neural and genetic energy (APOE) may be related to the onset of the disease. ▲
Alzheimer's treatment is done with the use of medications to reduce the symptoms of the disease, in addition to being necessary to perform physical therapy and cognitive stimulation. The disease has no cure and care must be taken until the end of life ▲
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The animals had blood samples collected at the end of four weeks to measure levels of corticosterone, a hormone equivalent to cortisol in humans. High levels of these hormones are related to stress and increased risk of developing Alzheimer's.
The rodents that trained had levels of the hormone corticosterone normalized, matching those of healthy animals without the mutation. A more detailed analysis of the animals' brains showed a decrease in the formation of beta-amyloid plaques.
“This confirms that physical activity can reverse the neuropathological changes that cause the clinical symptoms of the disease”, said study co-author Henrique Correia Campos, to Agência FAPESP.
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