How Does Exercise Modify the Course of Alzheimer's Disease?

In the last decade, an emerging literature has appeared which has focused on the role of exercise and related health issues in maintaining and promoting cognitive health. Evidence from human and animal studies has suggested mechanisms involving different types of exercise and other healthy life style changes, including dietary. What are the possible mechanisms? Those suggested include exercise-induced Increase in blood flow and oxygenation, reduced inflammation, increased metabolism, and other factors. Diabetes is also a known risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly, and exercise may delay or reduce this risk substantially.

In this Research Topic, we will explore the current thinking on how exercise may impact cognitive function as suggested by studies in animal models of cognitive impairment and clinical data from patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Topics on cognition and exercise:

Exercise studies in humans.

1. Types of exercise on MCI or early AD, and in normal aging

• Stretching vs. aerobic

• Single bouts at maximal or sub-maximal intensity

• Short and long-term exercise training

• Resistance (weight) training

• Exercise combined with visual

• Exercise and special diets or nutrition

• Exercise and diabetes and cognition


2. Effects of exercise on cognition in experimental animals

• AD models and improvement in AD

• Obese/diabetic animals and cognition: effects on leptin, metabolism

• Behavioral studies: effects of exercise on cognition

• Effects of exercise on inflammation and cognition

• Brain imaging studies: effects of exercise on AD pathology in aging humans and animals