• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
CT Help at Home

CT Help at Home

Your #1 Home Care Agency

  • Home
  • Home Care Solutions
    • Live-In Home Care
    • 24-Hour Home Care
    • Hourly Home Care
    • Alzheimer’s, Dementia & Memory Care
  • Our Caregivers
  • About Us
  • Free Assessment
  • 203-520-0116

Can Exercise Fight off Alzheimer’s?

April 16, 2019 by maryann

There are many myths floating around about how to prevent memory loss and slow down the progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. But do any of them work? While the jury may still be out for some more recent trends, such as brain-healthy foods and new age medications, one thing is for certain—exercise is an age old preventative tool for a longer life and high functioning mind! 

A recent study in Medical News Today claimed that engaging in exercise-related activities can keep the body young and healthy. Similarly, the same appears to be relevant for cognitive abilities, as ten minutes of daily physical exercise—according to this study—helps boost the function of the mind short-term. And the study takes it a step further, claiming that exercising consistently for six months can reverse symptoms of “mild cognitive impairment.” Is this too good to be true or do we all really need to be hitting those exercise bikes to keep our brains functioning properly? 

When we exercise, there’s a protein called “irisin” that is released. People with lower-than-normal irisin levels in the brain struggled with short-term memory. In studies with rodents, when given irisin, their memory was increased, as was their ability to form and strengthen new synapses. Also, when the irisin in mice was blocked, they were no longer allowed to enjoy the “cognitive boost” that comes from exercise. Clearly, this protein appears to be front and center when it comes to strengthening and maintaining memory and preventing overall memory loss. 

Scientists have since begun to devise irisin-producing therapies that can help those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia in an attempt to slow down the disease. While these therapies are still new, what does remain evident is exercise can help in the production of this protein, which is ultimately good for the brain. 

So it might be worth hitting the exercise bike a few more days a week? I think your brain says yes! 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Footer

Your #1 Home Care Agency

CT Help at Home
500 W. Putnam Ave
Greenwich, CT 06830

Reg #1430

Service Areas

Fairfield County, CT
New Haven County, CT
New York, NY
Westchester County, NY
Naples, FL
Marco Island, FL

Follow us!

Home Care Solutions

  • Live-In Home Care
  • 24-Hour Home Care
  • Hourly Home Care
  • Dementia & Memory Care

About

  • Our Company
  • Our Services
  • Our Caregivers
  • Our Blog
  • MaryAnn Ciambrello, RN
  • Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Home Care Consulting

Contact Us

203-520-0116

Schedule a Free Assessment

Send Us a Message

Hours

Call us anytime for emergencies

Monday-Friday 6am-8pm
Saturday 8am-4pm
Sunday 10am-2pm

© 2023 CT Help at Home LLC

Website by Chroma Sites