Physical Activity and Motor Ability Associated With Better Cognition in Older Adults, Even With Dementia

A study published in Neurology suggests being more physically active is linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's and a slower rate of cognitive decline in older adults, reports the U.S. National Institute on Aging . The study sought to test several hypotheses, with one proposing that physical activity prevents the formation of damaging plaques and tangles in the brain. The other speculates that being more physically active may simply improve or maintain the ability to function in the face of accruing brain damage from Alzheimer's. More than 450 older adults were recruited from retirement communities, and received cognitive, behavioral, and biomedical tests during their lives, donating their brain and other tissues after death. Signs of dementia were observed in 191 participants, while the remaining 263 did not show symptoms. Nearly all cases, including those with no signs of dementia, exhibited evidence of at least one form of brain disease or damage, with most having an average of three different forms of brain pathology. Even after the presence of signs of Alzheimer's and other brain damage was accounted for, more physical activity and better motor abilities were still associated with better cognitive function. This supports the theory that physical activity may promote cognitive resilience, helping offset or conceal the negative consequences of neurodegeneration.