Exercise May Benefit Elderly With Memory Problems

US Pharm. 2016;41(11):16.

Vancouver, BC—It is known that exercise reduces the risk of developing memory problems, but new research indicates that it may also benefit elderly people who already have cognitive decline. In the randomized study, subjects (mean age 74 years) with mild vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) either participated in 1-hour exercise classes three times weekly for 6 months or received monthly information about VCI and healthful diet, but none on physical activity. All subjects were tested on overall thinking skills, executive function, and daily activities at baseline, at the end of the study, and 6 months later. Compared with information-only participants, subjects who exercised had a modest improvement in overall thinking skills (1.7-point improvement in scores). VCI is the second most common cause of dementia following Alzheimer’s disease.