Regular Walks Strengthen Connections in and Between Brain Networks

A new University of Maryland School of Public Health study reveals how walking strengthens connections within and between three of the brain’s networks, including one associated with Alzheimer’s disease, adding to the growing evidence that exercise improves brain health.

The study examined the brains and story recollection abilities of older adults with normal brain function and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, which is a slight decline in mental abilities like memory, reasoning and judgment and a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

“Historically, the brain networks we studied in this research show deterioration over time in people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease,” said J. Carson Smith, principal investigator of the study. “They become disconnected, and as a result, people lose their ability to think clearly and remember things. We’re demonstrating that exercise training strengthens these connections.”

Thirty-three participants, who ranged between 71 and 85 years old, walked while supervised on a treadmill four days a week for 12 weeks. Before and after this exercise regimen, researchers asked participants to read a short story and then repeat it out loud with as many details as possible.

Participants also underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging so researchers could measure changes in communication within and between the three brain networks that control cognitive function.

After 12 weeks of exercise, researchers repeated the tests and saw significant improvements in participants’ story recall abilities.

“The brain activity was stronger and more synchronized, demonstrating exercise actually can induce the brain’s ability to change and adapt,” Smith said. “These results provide even more hope that exercise may be useful as a way to prevent or help stabilize people with mild cognitive impairment and maybe, over the long term, delay their conversion to Alzheimer’s dementia.”

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Sources:

Junyeon Won, Kristy A. Nielson, J. Carson Smith. Large-Scale Network Connectivity and Cognitive Function Changes After Exercise Training in Older Adults with Intact Cognition and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, 2023; 7 (1): 399 DOI: 10.3233/ADR-220062

University of Maryland. “Study finds brain connectivity, memory improves in older adults after walking.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 May 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230525135932.htm>.

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