Strength Training Shrank Alzheimer-Prone Brain Areas Slightly
Graded Moderate — ninety older adults were assigned at random for 24 weeks, but this is an extra analysis of the trial, and the group with deposits was small.
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Participants
- 90
- Duration
- 6 months
- Funding
- Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIN/AEI), EU funds…
Twenty-four weeks of strength training slightly shrank brain areas that suffer early in Alzheimer's in older adults.
Six months of strength training changed the brains of older adults in a Spanish study. Afterwards, brain areas that suffer early in Alzheimer's looked slightly thinner and smaller on scans. That sounds worrying at first. The researchers read it more as an adaptation: people whose areas shrank more tended to do better at planning and controlling their thinking.
The study included 90 people around 72 years old, none with memory problems. They were chosen at random: 46 trained in a group three times a week for an hour, using elastic bands and body weight. The other 44 kept living as usual. The effect was small. It was larger in people with amyloid, protein deposits typical of Alzheimer's. In people without deposits, no clear difference showed up. A second measure of fine tissue structure did not change clearly either.
Whether the change is good or bad cannot be said for sure. The brain changes did not statistically explain the thinking results. Only about one in five had deposits, and nobody was followed after the program ended.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.