Physically active older people have higher levels of a protein. It improves the connections between neurons, and ensures the maintenance of cognitive abilities.
- The beneficial effects of physical activity on cognition had been demonstrated in mice.
- According to the WHO, people over 65 should practice at least 2h30 of moderate physical activity per week.
Sport and physical activity keep us healthy. They would even be assets in the preservation of our brain functions over the years. Researchers from the University of California – San Francisco, explain in a study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementiathat sport has a protective effect on the brain.
Essential proteins for neural connections
In this work, they observed the data concerning the brain state of more than 400 elderly people registered in a medical database. The goal was to track the end-of-life physical activity of participants, who also agreed to donate their brains when they died. Scientists noticed that people who were physically active had higher levels of presynaptic proteins. Their role is to facilitate the exchange of information between neurons. Earlier, William Honer, one of the authors, observed that people who had higher levels of these proteins in their brains when they died were better able to maintain cognition later in life. “Our work is the first that uses human data to show that synaptic protein regulation is linked to physical activity and can lead to beneficial cognitive outcomes.“, believes Kaitlin Casaletto, co-author. The effects go beyond the hippocampus, the seat of memory, and encompass other brain regions related to cognitive function. “Physical activity may exert an overall sustaining effect, supporting and stimulating proteins that facilitate synaptic transmission throughout the brain“, specifies William Honer.
A protective effect on brains showing signs of dementia?
This protective aspect of physical activity would even be valid in the event of illness. The researchers observed it in patients whose brains were littered with toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases: such as tau and amyloid. Kaitlin Casaletto previously found that synaptic integrity mediates the relationship between amyloid and tau, and between tau and neurodegeneration.”In older adults with higher levels of proteins associated with synaptic integrity, this cascade of neurotoxicity that leads to Alzheimer’s disease appears to be attenuated.she says. Taken together, these two studies show the potential importance of maintaining synaptic health in supporting the brain against Alzheimer’s disease..” She reminds us that physical activity is accessible to everyone. Walking, cycling or even dancing allow you to move easily.
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