Resistance Exercise May Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience suggests that resistance exercise may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

The study used a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease called APP/PS1. These mice are genetically engineered to produce high levels of amyloid beta (Aβ), a protein that forms plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. The researchers divided the mice into three groups: a control group, a sedentary exercise group, and a resistance exercise group.

The resistance exercise group received progressive RE on alternate days for four weeks. The control group did not receive any exercise.

Researchers found that the resistance exercise group had significantly fewer amyloid plaques in their brains than the other two groups. The resistance exercise group also had increased levels of microglia, a type of immune cell that helps to clear away amyloid plaques.

The researchers believe that the reduction in amyloid plaques and the increase in microglial activity may be due to the anti-inflammatory effects of resistance exercise. They also believe that resistance exercise may help to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients.

The study’s findings suggest that resistance exercise may be a promising new way to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings in humans.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the study:

• Resistance exercise reduced the number of amyloid plaques in the hippocampus of mice.
• Resistance exercise increased the number of microglial cells in the hippocampus of mice.
• Resistance exercise decreased plasma corticosterone levels in mice.
• These findings suggest that resistance exercise may be a promising new way to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The study’s limitations:

• The study was conducted in mice, so it is not clear if the findings would apply to humans.
• The study was relatively small, so more research is needed to confirm the findings.

Overall, the study’s findings are promising and suggest that resistance exercise may be a beneficial way to protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Reference:

• https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1132825/full