São Paulo, Brazil – A groundbreaking study conducted at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) has revealed that weight training may offer significant protection against dementia in older adults. Published in the journal GeroScience, the research demonstrates that resistance exercise not only improves memory performance but also induces positive changes in brain structure.
The study focused on 44 individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes Alzheimer’s disease. Participants were divided into two groups: one engaged in a six-month weight training program, while the other served as a control group.
The results were striking. Those who participated in the weight training program, consisting of twice-weekly sessions of moderate to high-intensity exercises, exhibited significant improvements. Notably, MRI scans showed protection against atrophy in the hippocampus and precuneus, brain regions crucial for memory and spatial awareness, which are often affected by Alzheimer’s. Additionally, the weight training group showed enhanced white matter integrity, indicating improved neuronal health.
“We already knew that there would be physical improvement. Cognitive improvement was also imagined, but we wanted to see the effect of weight training on the brains of older people with mild cognitive impairment. The study showed that, fortunately, weight training is a strong ally against dementia, even for people who are already at high risk of developing it,” stated Isadora Ribeiro, the study’s lead author.
Researchers also highlighted the cost-effectiveness of weight training as a preventative measure compared to pharmaceutical interventions. “The new anti-amyloid drugs approved in the United States, indicated for the treatment of dementia and for people with mild cognitive impairment, cost around USD 30,000 a year. That’s a very high cost. These non-pharmacological measures, as we’ve shown is the case with weight training, are effective, not only in preventing dementia but also in improving mild cognitive impairment,” commented Marcio Balthazar, a BRAINN researcher and study supervisor.
The researchers believe that the protective effects of weight training stem from the stimulation of neural growth factors and the reduction of systemic inflammation. They are currently analyzing the levels of irisin and BDNF, substances associated with neural protection, to further understand the underlying mechanisms.
Future research aims to explore the potential for even longer-term weight training programs to reverse MCI diagnoses and delay dementia progression.