Physical activity keeps brain young: Study
POSTED July 1, 2009 - 12:04 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Priya Markanda on July 1, 2009 - 15:16
For the study, Elizabeth Bullitt, M.D., Van L. Weatherspoon, Professor of Neurosurgery and her team used non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) angiography to compare the brains of two groups of older adults to find the positive effect of aerobic exercise that keep brain young.
The research was an effort to determine whether older individuals with young brains are more likely to workout or whether aerobic activity can reverse the cerebrovascular, blood vessels and functional changes associated with advancing age.
The study conducted
For the purpose of the study the researchers assessed seven men and seven women, between the age group of 60-80 years. The subjects were equally divided into two groups.
The high activity group exercised for 180 minutes per week during ten successive years. The second group disclosed that they had no history of regular exercise in the past but were currently involved in less than 90 minutes of aerobic activity per week.
The researchers were unaware into which group participants were placed.
The researchers observations
The team observed that physically active group displayed a greater number of small diameter blood vessels, whereas the less active group, exhibited a vessel pattern similar to younger adults.
The researchers also found major differences in the left and right middle cerebral artery regions. This statistical assessment was confirmed by more than one analysis.
The scientists revealed that healthy blood vessels that supply blood flow to the brain are an important part of staying mentally sharp and active with aging. However, as one grows old, the brain's blood vessels become stiff, thin and twisted.
The researchers noticed that the cerebral-vascular pattern of active patients was apparently “younger” as opposed to the relatively inactive subjects. The brains of the laid back subjects exhibited increased twists produced by vessel elongation and wider expansion curves.
The study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
The results are scheduled for publication in the July edition of the American Journal of Neuroradiology.
