Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a disastrous, new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that not only doesn’t slow the progression of the disease…but can cause BRAIN SWELLING!
Meanwhile, the mainstream press failed to report on brand-new research that found something as simple as WALKING may provide promising results for men and women in the early stages of dementia.
In fact, in two new studies, these researchers found that moderate exercise can improve blood flow to the brain—and BOOST cognitive performance on memory tests by a truly astounding percentage!
So, let’s talk about WHY blood flow to the brain is so critical for memory. And then, I’ll tell you how you can reap the many health benefits of leisurely physical activity…
Your brain relies on a strong, steady stream of nutrients
In the last century, doctors commonly observed that older people with age-related vascular disease, which causes reduced blood flow to the brain (and to other parts of the body), had a greater risk of developing what they called “vascular dementia.”
They also found that people could develop dementia following a stroke…which suddenly cuts off blood flow to the brain. Or—because they suffered from any other number of conditions that impair blood vessels and circulation.
In other words, researchers realized that reduced blood flow to the brain deprives it of vital oxygen and nutrients REQUIRED for healthy cognition—leading to dementia. Whereas a strong blood flow helps steadily deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
Well, as I often discuss, there are a few excellent ways to easily improve blood flow to the brain, including…
1.) Following a healthy, Mediterranean-type diet.
2.) Enjoying some moderate alcohol consumption.
3.) Allowing for some safe, moderate increases in blood pressure as you get older.
4.) Engaging in light-to-moderate exercise.
Now, let’s look at the first new study, which analyzed the effect of exercise on blood flow to the brain in men and women with cognitive impairment…
Light-to-moderate exercise shown to work wonders
This study involved 70 men and women, between the ages of 55 to 80 years, who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). At the study’s outset, they underwent cognitive assessments, fitness tests, and brain scans.
Then, the researchers assigned them to participate in either moderate exercise or stretching activities for one year.
The men and women in the exercise group participated in three to five 30- to 40-minute sessions of moderate physical activity, such as walking, each week. (That averages out to about 140 to 150 minutes per week, which is the optimal amount for conferring major health benefits, according to many scientific studies.) Meanwhile, the other group just did light stretching each week.
After one year, the men and women in the exercise group (but not the stretching group) showed decreases in the stiffness of arteries in the neck (which supply blood to the brain)—and an overall increase in blood flow to the brain in MRI brain scans. (Hardening and stiffness in the arteries of the neck is a major risk factor for stroke.)
As a side note, none of the men and women in this first study exhibited improvements in cognitive function and/or memory after one year. However, the researchers said that improvements in blood flow would precede improvements in memory among people who already have MCI. So, a longer, two-year study is in progress to investigate if memory would improve over time with increased exercise.
Of course, in a second study conducted by these same researchers, they DID find a connection between exercise and memory improvement…
Just as they did in the first study, the researchers divided older men and women with memory problems into an exercise group and a stretching group. Then, they gave them a battery of tests at the study outset and after 12 months.
This time, after 12 months, the exercise group showed a staggering 47 percent improvement in memory scores compared to their initial performance. The stretching group only experienced minimal changes.
Plus, brain imaging of the exercise group, taken while they were at rest at the beginning and end of the study, showed increased blood flow into the anterior cingulate cortex and the hippocampus—regions of the brain that play important roles in memory function.
In the end, as these two studies show, you don’t need to take a dangerous drug to combat memory decline or ward off dementia. (The drugs don’t work anyway.) Something as simple as adding a little aerobic exercise, like walking or swimming, to your week will do the trick. And remember—yardwork and housework also count toward your weekly total of physical activity!
Finally, I urge you to become your own health advocate, especially when it comes to brain health. Check out my Complete Alzheimer’s Fighting Protocol—where I outline an all-natural plan to protect and restore brain health AND fight memory loss. To learn more, or to enroll today, click here now.
Sources:
“Brain Perfusion Change in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment After 12 Months of Aerobic Exercise Training.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2020; 75(2): 617-631. doi.org/10.3233/JAD-190977
“One-Year Aerobic Exercise Reduced Carotid Arterial Stiffness and Increased Cerebral Blood Flow in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.” J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;80(2):841-853. doi.org/10.3233/JAD-201456.