Regular exercise is expected to slow down the process of brain degradation

A new study released yesterday by the University of Texas at Dallas Southwestern Medical Center states that exercising several times a week, especially aerobic exercise, may help slow the process of brain degradation in people at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.

　　A research team led by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas Southwestern Medical Center conducted a clinical trial on 70 participants 55 years and older with memory problems. They were divided into two groups, one performed 4 to 5 times a week. Aerobic exercise lasting at least half an hour at a time, the other group only stretch training. The results showed that the cognitive abilities of the two groups of participants during the trial were similar in terms of memory and problem solving, but brain scans showed that the aerobic exercise group had a slower reduction in hippocampal volume.

　　Researchers point out that subjects with amyloid in the brain are more sensitive to aerobic exercise than other types of exercise. However, although aerobic exercise cannot prevent the hippocampus from becoming smaller, it still makes sense to reduce the rate of atrophy through exercise according to Xinhua News Agency.