Study: Intense exercise by older people protects brains

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Updated: August 3, 2011 6:09PM

Older people who regularly exercise at moderate to intense levels could have a 40 percent lower risk of developing brain damage linked to strokes, certain kinds of dementia and mobility problems.

New research published in the journal Neurology says the MRIs of subjects who exercised at higher levels were significantly less likely to show brain damage caused by blocked arteries that interrupt blood flow — markers for strokes — than people who exercised lightly.

There was no difference between those who engaged in light exercise and those who didn’t exercise at all.

Until now, studies have shown exercise helps lower blood pressure, bad cholesterol and insulin levels — all risk factors for strokes causing brain damage. Treating those conditions is helpful, but some brain damage isn’t reversible.

“It’s not good enough just to exercise, but the more [intense], the better,” said study co-author Dr. Joshua Willey, a researcher at Columbia University’s Department of Neurology. “The hope is with lower risk of having these events, you’d also be at lower risk of dementia or stroke.”

Gannett News Service