Being physically active may protect the brain from Alzheimer disease

摘要

Physical activity has been consistently associated with decreased risk for cognitive decline and dementia1 and its positive effects are evident both for Alzheimer disease (AD)2 and vascular dementia.3 In contrast to many other risk and protective factors for AD that have failed to show effectiveness when translated into clinical trials (e.g., vitamin E, statins),4 clinical trials investigating the effects of physical activity on cognitive outcomes have yielded mostly positive results,5 albeit with relatively small sample sizes. These effects are relevant for prevention in primary (normal), secondary (mild cognitive impairment), and tertiary (AD) patients. Potential mechanisms underlying the relationship of physical activity with AD include modification of levels of brain-derived neurotrophic and vascular endothelial growth factors, and improved glucometabolic functioning.