At AAIC 2015, Liu-Ambrose and colleagues reported results from a six-month study of 71 adults 56-96 years old with confirmed cases of mild VCI. Participants were assigned to two groups: one did supervised aerobic exercise three times per week for 60 minutes with certified fitness instructors, the other group received usual care plus an education seminar on nutrition once per month. All received the ADAS-Cog, a standard test of memory and thinking, at the beginning and end of the study.
Sixty-two of the 71 participants completed the full six-month study. The researchers found that study participants who took the aerobics classes significantly (p<0.05) improved their cognitive function, including memory and selective attention, compared to the people receiving usual care. In addition, functional brain scans acquired before and after the six-month study showed that the brains of study participants became more efficient with aerobic exercise training.
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"While these promising results need to be replicated in larger and more diverse populations, the fact that aerobic exercise can improve cognitive function in VCI means that people with the condition have hope there may soon be a proven tool they can use to prolong their independence and improve their quality of life," said Liu-Ambrose. "Exercise is a strategy that can be inexpensively delivered at the population level."
About AAIC
The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's largest gathering of leading researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community.
AAIC 2015 home page: www.alz.org/aaic/
AAIC 2015 newsroom: www.alz.org/aaic/press.asp
About the Alzheimer's Association®
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
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