简单运动可减缓记忆丧失
Simple Exercise Can Slow Memory Loss
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
New research suggests that even a simple exercise program might help older people with light, or mild memory problems.
Doctors have long advised patients to do physical activity to help keep their brains healthy. But the U.S. government-supported research marks the longest study of whether exercise makes any difference once memory starts to decline.
The study
Researchers found around 300 inactive older adults with memory changes called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is a condition that sometimes comes before Alzheimer’s disease.
Half of the older adults did aerobic exercises, and the rest did stretching and balance movements that raised their heart rates a little.
People in both groups got attention from trainers who worked with them at youth organization centers called YMCAs around the United States. When COVID-19 shut down gyms, the trainers helped the study participants keep moving at home by video calls.
After a year, testing of mental activity showed neither group had worsened, said lead researcher Laura Baker of Wake Forest School of Medicine in the state of North Carolina. Brain scans did not show the shrinkage that often goes with worsening memory problems, she said.
By comparison, similar MCI patients in another long-term study of brain health ― but without exercise ― experienced cognitive, or mental decline over a year.
The early findings are surprising. But the National Institute on Aging cautioned that tracking non-exercisers in the same study would have offered better evidence.
“Doable for everybody”
The results suggest “this is doable for everybody” ― not just seniors healthy enough to work up a hard sweat, said Baker. She presented the data recently at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. “Exercise needs to be part of the prevention strategies for at-risk seniors,” she added.
Maria Carrillo is the Alzheimer’s Association chief scientific officer. She said earlier research has found regular physical activity of any kind may reduce damaging inflammation and increase blood flow to the brain.
She added that the new study is especially interesting because the COVID-19 pandemic began halfway through the study. That meant the study participants became socially isolated, or separated from others. Social isolation has long been known to increase people’s risk of memory problems, Carrillo said.
Difficulties of research
It is a difficult time for dementia research. Doctors are not sure about prescribing a high-priced new drug called Aduhelm. The drug is supposed to be the first to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s ― but it is not yet clear if it really helps patients.
Researchers last month reported another drug that works similarly failed in an important study. It, too, targets amyloid plaques in the brain.
There is growing urgency to find whether exercise and other steps might offer at least some protection.
How much and what kind of exercise?
In Baker’s study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes four times a week. It did not matter whether it was exercise on the treadmill device or stretching exercises.
Baker believes the social connection with the trainers helped. Each participant completed over 100 hours of exercise.
“We wouldn’t have done the exercise on our own,” said Doug Maxwell of Verona, Wisconsin, who joined the study with his wife.
The husband and wife, both 81, were assigned to the stretching classes. They felt so good afterward that when the study ended, they bought electric bikes in hopes of even more activity.
Baker suspects that the volume of exercise might explain why even the simple stretching added up to a health benefit. Participants were supposed to exercise without social support for an additional six months. Baker has not studied that data yet.
In addition to the recent study, Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other steps such as a healthy diet, brain games and social activities may reduce the risk of dementia.
I’m John Russell. And I’m Ashley Thompson.
VOCABULARY
1. aerobic adj. (of physical exercise 健身活动) especially designed to improve the function of the heart and lungs 有氧的；增强心肺功能的
2. shrinkage n. the process of becoming smaller in size; the amount by which something becomes smaller 缩小；收缩
3. dementia n. a serious mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury, that affects the ability to
think, remember and behave normally 痴呆；精神错乱
4. amyloid adj. 类淀粉的
5. plaque n. a soft substance that forms on teeth and encourages the growth of harmful bacteria 牙斑；
菌斑
6. treadmill n. an exercise machine that has a moving surface that you can walk or run on while remaining in the same place（锻炼身体的）跑步机，走步机
QUESTIONS
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.
1. New research suggests that even a simple exercise program might help younger people with light, or mild memory problems.
2. Doctors have long advised patients to do physical activity to help keep their brains healthy.
3. MCI is a condition that sometimes comes before Alzheimer’s disease.
4. MCI patients without exercise experienced both cognitive and mental decline over a year.
5. Maria Carrillo said earlier research has found any kind of regular physical activity may reduce damaging inflammation and decrease blood flow to the brain.
6. Carrillo said social isolation has long been known to increase people’s risk of memory problems.
7. In Baker’s study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes three times a week.
8. Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other steps may increase the risk of dementia.
KEY
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.
(F) 1. New research suggests that even a simple exercise program might help younger people with light, or mild memory problems.（正确表达）New research suggests that even a simple exercise program might help older people with light, or mild memory problems.
(T) 2. Doctors have long advised patients to do physical activity to help keep their brains healthy.
(T) 3. MCI is a condition that sometimes comes before Alzheimer’s disease.
(F) 4. MCI patients without exercise experienced both cognitive and mental decline over a year.（正确表达）MCI patients without exercise experienced cognitive, or mental decline over a year.
(F) 5. Maria Carrillo said earlier research has found any kind of regular physical activity may reduce damaging inflammation and decrease blood flow to the brain.（正确表达）Maria Carrillo said earlier research has found any kind of regular physical activity may reduce damaging inflammation and increase blood flow to the brain.
(T) 6. Carrillo said social isolation has long been known to increase people’s risk of memory problems.
(F) 7. In Baker’s study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes three times a week. （正确表达）In Baker’s study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes four times a week.
(F) 8. Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other steps may increase the risk of dementia.（正确表达）Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other steps may reduce the risk of dementia.
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