Regular Physical Activity Linked to Larger Brain Volume

California's Santa Monica According to a recent study, doing as low as 4,000 steps per day can help prevent Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain function. Basic workouts improve important brain regions related to learning and memory, which lowers the risk of dementia, according to research from the United States and Canada.

People who routinely went on walks, runs, or participated in sports showed larger brain volumes in these important regions. The Brain Health Centre at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute is conducting a larger inquiry that includes this discovery.

We discovered that even modest physical activity, such walking less than 4,000 steps a day, can benefit mental health. According to a press statement from the PBHC and co-author of the study David Merrill, M.D., "This is a more realistic goal for many people as it is significantly fewer than the frequently recommended 10,000 steps."

Our findings corroborate past research demonstrating the beneficial effects of physical activity on the brain. Lead researcher Cyrus A. Raji, M.D., continues, "Exercise not only reduces the risk of dementia but also aids in preserving brain growth, which is vital as we age.

Regular physical activity is associated with bigger brain sizes, which suggests benefits for neuroprotection. "This big sample study advances our understanding of lifestyle factors in brain health and dementia prevention," says Somayeh Meysami, M.D., co-author of the research and assistant professor of neurosciences at the Pacific Brain Health Centre and Saint John's Cancer Institute.

A 2020 Lancet Study discovered that physical exercise is one of around a dozen modifiable risk factors that raise the chance of Alzheimer's disease. This study expands on earlier research by the same group, which linked enhanced brain anatomy to calorie burn from recreational activities.

George Perry, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, concludes, "This study demonstrates the influence of exercise on brain health imaging and when added to other studies on the role of diet, stress reduction, and social connection offer the proven benefits of drug-free modifiable factors in substantially reducing Alzheimer's disease." "Regular physical activity, like going for a daily walk or playing a favourite sport, can have long-lasting advantages for our brain health."

The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease publishes the study.

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