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Exercising in your 70s 'may stop brain shrinkage'

By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online

Exercising in your 70s may stop your brain from shrinking and showing the signs

of ageing linked to dementia, say experts from Edinburgh University.

Brain scans of 638 people past the age of retirement showed those who were most

physically active had less brain shrinkage over a three-year period.

Exercise did not have to be strenuous - going for a walk several times a week

sufficed, the journal Neurology says.

But giving the mind a workout by doing a tricky crossword had little impact.

The study found no real brain-size benefit from mentally challenging

activities, such as reading a book, or other pastimes such as socialising with

friends and family.

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More research is also needed to tease out how physical activity might be having

a beneficial effect

Dr Simon Ridley Alzheimer's Research UK

When the researchers examined the brain's white matter - the wiring that

transmits messages round the brain - they found that the people over the age of

70 who were more physically active had fewer damaged areas than those who did

little exercise.

And they had more grey matter - the parts of the brain where the messages

originate.

Experts already know that our brains tend to shrink as we age and that this

shrinkage is linked to poorer memory and thinking.

And previous studies have shown that exercise helps reduce the risk of dementia

and can slow down its onset.

But scientists are still baffled about why this is.

'Never too late'

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients to

brain cells, which may be important.

Or it may be that as people's brains shrink, they become less inclined to

exercise.

Regardless of why, experts say the findings are good news because exercise is

an easy thing to do to boost health.

Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "This study

links physical exercise to fewer signs of ageing in the brain, suggesting that

it may be a way of protecting our cognitive health.

"While we can't say that exercise is the causal factor in this study, we do

know that exercise in middle age can lower the risk of dementia later in life.

"It will be important to follow these volunteers to see whether these

structural features are associated with greater cognitive decline over the

coming years. More research is also needed to tease out how physical activity

might be having a beneficial effect."

Prof James Goodwin, head of research at Age UK, the charity that provided the

funding for the research, said: "This research re-emphasises that it really is

never too late to benefit from exercise, so whether it's a brisk walk to the

shops, gardening or competing in a fun run it is crucial that, those of us who

can, get active as we grow older."