Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 08, 2026 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Medical News: New research shows that regular exercise may help slow brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and preserve memory for longer.
Alzheimer’s disease remains the leading cause of dementia worldwide, affecting millions of older adults and placing a growing burden on families and healthcare systems. While several drugs can help manage symptoms, scientists continue searching for safer and more accessible ways to delay the disease or slow its progression. A new comprehensive review has now highlighted one of the most powerful tools already available to most people—regular physical exercise.
Regular physical activity may slow Alzheimer’s-related brain changes and help preserve memory and
cognitive function as people age
Researchers from the Department of STEM, School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts, USA; McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts, USA; and the School of Health Sciences, Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts, USA analyzed findings from human clinical trials, observational studies, and animal research to evaluate how exercise affects Alzheimer’s disease.
Exercise Targets Multiple Alzheimer’s Disease Mechanisms
The review found that exercise influences many of the biological processes involved in Alzheimer’s disease. These include reducing harmful inflammation in the brain, improving blood flow, enhancing energy production inside brain cells, supporting the growth of new neurons, and helping remove toxic proteins associated with dementia.
Scientists observed that physical activity increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), often described as “fertilizer” for brain cells. Higher BDNF levels help maintain communication between neurons, support memory formation, and improve the brain’s ability to adapt and repair itself.
Exercise was also shown to improve mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the energy-producing structures inside cells, and their dysfunction is a major feature of Alzheimer’s disease. By improving mitochondrial health, exercise may help brain cells survive longer and function more efficiently.
Animal Studies Reveal Remarkable Benefits
Studies involving Alzheimer’s disease animal models produced especially impressive results. Regular aerobic activities such as treadmill running, swimming, and wheel running reduced amyloid-beta plaque accumulation and lowered levels of abnormal tau proteins—two hallmark features of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers also documented improvements in learning ability, memory performance, and hippocampal function. Resistance training produced similar benefits, including increased levels of growth factors that support neuron survival and reduced activation of inflammatory brain cells.
Importantly, the greatest benefits occurred when exercise began before extensive brain damage had developed, suggesting that
prevention may be more effective than attempting to reverse advanced disease.
Human Studies Show Strong Protection in Early Stages
Human clinical trials revealed that exercise can help preserve cognitive function, especially among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often considered a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
Aerobic exercise programs lasting several months were associated with preservation of hippocampal volume, improved memory performance, and stronger brain connectivity. Resistance training also enhanced executive functions such as planning, decision-making, and attention.
This
Medical News report notes that researchers consistently found the strongest cognitive benefits in people who exercised at moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes per session, three or more times per week, over a period of at least 12 weeks.
However, among patients with established mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease, exercise produced more modest cognitive improvements. Even so, participants often experienced better mobility, balance, physical independence, and quality of life.
Mind-Body Exercises Offer Additional Advantages
The review also highlighted the benefits of mind-body activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, Baduanjin, dance programs, and dual-task exercises that combine physical movement with mental challenges.
These activities appeared particularly effective for improving memory, emotional well-being, balance, and executive function. Some studies even showed increases in brain connectivity and preservation of brain structures involved in memory processing.
Researchers believe these exercises work through a combination of physical activity, mental stimulation, social engagement, and stress reduction.
Midlife May Be the Critical Window
One of the most important findings was that Alzheimer’s disease processes often begin decades before symptoms appear. The review suggests that middle age may be the most critical period for adopting regular exercise habits.
Physical activity during midlife helps control obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors that contribute to dementia. It may also reduce the buildup of toxic brain proteins long before memory problems become noticeable.
Conclusion
The evidence reviewed strongly suggests that exercise is one of the most promising non-drug approaches for protecting brain health and reducing Alzheimer’s disease risk. Although exercise cannot completely prevent or cure the condition, it appears capable of slowing harmful brain changes, preserving cognitive reserve, improving physical function, and enhancing quality of life. The greatest benefits are seen when exercise is started early and maintained consistently over time, making regular physical activity a potentially powerful strategy for delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Neurology International.
https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/18/6/113
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