Latest news with #CindyBarha
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Worried about Alzheimer's? Start walking, according to a new 10-year study
If you needed another reason to get your daily steps in, science just handed you one. A new study shows that walking daily can reduce the risk of cognitive decline — especially among those with a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's disease. Almost 3,000 participants between the ages of 70 and 79 reported their daily walking habits over the course of 10 years, according to research that will be presented Tuesday at the annual Alzheimer's Association International Conference. Those who reported maintaining or increasing their walking habits over the years showed greater improvements in processing speed and executive function. The benefits of walking were especially noticeable among those with a genetic predisposition for developing Alzheimer's disease, according to the preprint, which has not been peer-reviewed or published in a professional journal. 'We know sedentary behavior increases as you get older, and physical activity decreases,' said senior study author Dr. Cindy Barha, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary in Alberta. 'So we recommend reducing your sedentary behavior by introducing small bouts of walking in between those times you have to be sitting down.' How does Alzheimer's disease work? Alzheimer's disease is a severe form of dementia thought to be caused by a buildup of harmful plaques in the brain that interfere with how the nerve cells communicate, eventually leading to their death, Barha said. As more nerve cells die, people with Alzheimer's can develop progressive memory loss, confusion, personality changes and physical decline. Eventually, the disease can be fatal, and there is no known cure. Genetics are thought to play a major role in the disease. Specifically, genotypes called APOE affect the metabolism of plaque and other fats throughout the bloodstream. One specific kind, APOE4, is known to make it harder for the brain to clear the plaques and is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline. About 15% to 25% of people have this version of the APOE gene, and the only way to find out is from a genetic test, according to data from the US National Institutes of Health. The mind-body connection Although the new study did not test a uniform walking regimen, Barha suggests walking multiple times daily to break up sedentary behavior and maintaining consistent walking habits year to year to prevent cognitive decline. 'More research is really needed to determine how many steps that really takes, but more is definitely going to be better,' she said. 'The next steps would be to actually try to figure out the minimum amount of walking for different subgroups, (such as) females versus males, APOE4 carriers versus non-carriers.' A 2022 study found that even people who walked about 3,800 steps per day at any speed cut their risk of dementia by 25%. What might be going on between the brain and the rest of the body? Experts have several theories. For one, regular exercise has been shown to help the body produce more of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which is like fertilizer for your brain, helping it grow more cells and form new connections, Barha explained. 'We're thinking there's proteins released from the muscle that travel to the brain and, either across the blood-brain barrier or at the blood-brain barrier, start a reaction that eventually leads to increases in BDNF within the brain,' she said. Another theory is that exercise reduces neuroinflammation, a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease. The brain sends immune cells called microglia to attack plaque buildup, but this can backfire, explained Dr. Christiane Wrann, an associate professor of medicine at the Cardiovascular Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Chronic inflammation can lead microglia to begin attacking healthy brain cells as well, damaging the brain's connections. 'If you exercise, you actually strengthen the gene expression program that microglia need to function properly,' Wrann said. Does greater risk mean greater reward? The researchers were surprised to find that walking provided the greatest benefit to those with the APOE4 gene compared to those without it. To understand why this is, more research will be needed — but Barha has a theory. 'Before the study started, we think APOE4 carriers had more room to grow in terms of cognition, since they may already have been experiencing some cognitive decline,' she said. 'They also have more room to show improvement.' It's possible that the study itself also motivated participants with APOE4 genes to walk more than they had been beforehand, slowing their rate of decline. 'This is a very strong example (that) it's never too late to start exercising,' Wrann said. 'Every step counts, and it's much better to do an exercise regimen that you actually like, that you can actually stick to.' EDITOR'S NOTE: Sign up for CNN's Fitness, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide will help you ease into a healthy routine, backed by experts.
Global News
12 hours ago
- Health
- Global News
Regular walking can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's for many, study shows
The first steps towards reducing the risk of cognitive decline associated with aging could be as simple as going for regular walks, according to new research. Multiple studies have shown that regular physical activity can be beneficial as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, and new research shared with Global News shows that it can also help reduce the risk of cognitive decline associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. 'Higher amounts of self-reported walking were associated with protection against declines in global thinking as well as in that executive function in both males and females,' says neuroscience, brain health and exercise researcher Dr. Cindy Barha at the University of Calgary, who was part of the research. 'So if you had a greater risk, physical activity, walking seems to be even more beneficial, like really important to be doing.' Story continues below advertisement Barha's team will be presenting the findings of the study at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Tuesday. The study involved roughly 3,000 participants over a 10-year period, with ages ranging from 70 to 79, who reported their daily walking routines to researchers. Those participants, who started the study with no cognitive impairments, were tested every few years to gauge their cognitive functions and speed, with positive results. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Engaging in habitual physical activity may mitigate these (cognitive decline) effects by preserving global cognition and executive function in older age,' the study's report says. 'This highlights the importance of investigating lifestyle factors, such as habitual walking, as potential intervention strategies to slow or prevent cognitive decline, especially in populations at higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.' Participants also had genetic traits specifically related to dementia and cognitive decline, including types of genes that are associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's as well as those that offer greater protection. 4:13 Healthy Living Report June 4: benefits of walking regularly Participants with different genetic traits had varying results when performing the tests, but overall, physical activity was shown to help slow the decline in those at higher risk. Story continues below advertisement Exercise was shown to add an additional benefit for those with genes that already offered protection from cognitive decline associated with aging. Female participants also showed a greater benefit from regular exercise in most cases compared with their male counterparts. Barha says that because females statistically are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, they got a greater benefit from exercise than males, which is reflected in their cognitive scores. 'Females that have the APOE e4 version are even at a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease compared to men with the same gene, and higher amounts of self-reported walking were associated with protection against declines in global thinking as well as in that executive functions in both males and females, if they are an APOE-4 carrier,' Barha says. 'You should always exercise whether you're a female or male, but it may be more beneficial if you're at a greater risk genetically — women benefit a bit more.' Barha says a baseline level of walking for the study was 15 minutes per day, and that further studies could get more detailed, including varying levels of intensity, biological and geographical differences, as well as more controlled levels of exercise versus self-reported activity. 'The next steps would be to look at an intervention trial where we are targeting older adults that have these risks, that have this type of genetic risk factor and intervening different types of exercises to start to get at that personalization, that what is the optimal dose, the optimal type for preventing cognitive decline,' Barha says. Story continues below advertisement 'If you're at a risk for all Alzheimer's disease, in our case, we were looking at females, which is a risk factor, APOE4, which is risk factor. Exercise is more important, is important for everyone, but even more so for you.'
7NEWS
13 hours ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Worried about Alzheimer's? Start walking, according to a new 10-year study
If you needed another reason to get your daily steps in, science just handed you one. A new study shows that walking daily can reduce the risk of cognitive decline — especially among those with a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's disease. Almost 3000 participants between the ages of 70 and 79 reported their daily walking habits over the course of 10 years, according to research presented on Tuesday at the annual Alzheimer's Association International Conference. Those who reported maintaining or increasing their walking habits over the years showed greater improvements in processing speed and executive function. The benefits of walking were especially noticeable among those with a genetic predisposition for developing Alzheimer's disease, according to the preprint, which has not been peer-reviewed or published in a professional journal. 'We know sedentary behaviour increases as you get older, and physical activity decreases,' said senior study author Cindy Barha, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary in Alberta. 'So we recommend reducing your sedentary behaviour by introducing small bouts of walking in between those times you have to be sitting down.' How does Alzheimer's disease work? Alzheimer's disease is a severe form of dementia thought to be caused by a build-up of harmful plaques in the brain that interfere with how the nerve cells communicate, eventually leading to their death, Barha said. As more nerve cells die, people with Alzheimer's can develop progressive memory loss, confusion, personality changes and physical decline. Eventually, the disease can be fatal, and there is no known cure. Genetics are thought to play a major role in the disease. Specifically, genotypes called APOE affect the metabolism of plaque and other fats throughout the bloodstream. One specific kind, APOE4, is known to make it harder for the brain to clear the plaques and is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline. About 15 to 25 per cent of people have this version of the APOE gene, and the only way to find out is from a genetic test, according to data from the US National Institutes of Health. The mind-body connection Although the new study did not test a uniform walking regimen, Barha suggests walking multiple times daily to break up sedentary behaviour and maintaining consistent walking habits year to year to prevent cognitive decline. 'More research is really needed to determine how many steps that really takes, but more is definitely going to be better,' she said. 'The next steps would be to actually try to figure out the minimum amount of walking for different subgroups, (such as) females versus males, APOE4 carriers versus non-carriers.' A 2022 study found that even people who walked about 3800 steps per day at any speed cut their risk of dementia by 25 per cent. What might be going on between the brain and the rest of the body? Experts have several theories. For one, regular exercise has been shown to help the body produce more of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which is like fertiliser for your brain, helping it grow more cells and form new connections, Barha explained. 'We're thinking there's proteins released from the muscle that travel to the brain and, either across the blood-brain barrier or at the blood-brain barrier, start a reaction that eventually leads to increases in BDNF within the brain,' she said. Another theory is that exercise reduces neuroinflammation, a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease. The brain sends immune cells called microglia to attack plaque build-up, but this can backfire, explained Christiane Wrann, an associate professor of medicine at the Cardiovascular Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Chronic inflammation can lead microglia to begin attacking healthy brain cells as well, damaging the brain's connections. 'If you exercise, you actually strengthen the gene expression program that microglia need to function properly,' Wrann said. Does greater risk mean greater reward? The researchers were surprised to find that walking provided the greatest benefit to those with the APOE4 gene compared to those without it. To understand why this is, more research will be needed — but Barha has a theory. 'Before the study started, we think APOE4 carriers had more room to grow in terms of cognition, since they may already have been experiencing some cognitive decline,' she said. 'They also have more room to show improvement.' It's possible that the study itself also motivated participants with APOE4 genes to walk more than they had been beforehand, slowing their rate of decline. 'This is a very strong example (that) it's never too late to start exercising,' Wrann said. 'Every step counts, and it's much better to do an exercise regimen that you actually like, that you can actually stick to.'
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Could walking be the key to lowering Alzheimer's risk?
If you've been debating whether to get up and stretch your legs today, new research may give you the nudge you need. A fresh study, planned to be presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference this week, suggests that simply walking more could slow cognitive decline, especially in people genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers followed nearly 3,000 adults between the ages of 70 and 79 for a decade and tracked their walking habits and how those habits correlated with brain function over time. Participants who either maintained or increased their walking levels showed notable improvements in executive function and processing speed, according to the study, which is currently available as a preprint and hasn't yet undergone peer review. The findings appeared especially promising among individuals with the APOE4 genotype, a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's. According to Dr. Cindy Barha, senior study author and assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary, the results highlight the danger of inactivity as we age. The genetic link Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is believed to result from a buildup of toxic plaques in the brain that interfere with how nerve cells communicate. Over time, those neurons die, leading to memory loss, confusion, behavioral changes, and eventually, physical deterioration. There is no cure. The genetic story behind Alzheimer's is complex, but APOE genes play a central role. One particular variant, APOE4, is linked to a reduced ability to clear those brain plaques. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, between 15% and 25% of people carry this gene, though it can only be identified through genetic testing. What's compelling is that those at higher risk may benefit the most. 'Before the study started, we thought APOE4 carriers had more room to grow in terms of cognition, since they may already have been experiencing some cognitive decline,' Barha explained. 'They also have more room to show improvement.' She also speculated that participants who knew they carried APOE4 may have been more motivated to change their behavior during the study. Either way, the cognitive benefits were clear. But how does movement in the body affect what's happening in the brain? Experts believe exercise may increase the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein often compared to fertilizer for brain cells. 'We're thinking there are proteins released from the muscle that travel to the brain and, either across the blood-brain barrier or at the blood-brain barrier, start a reaction that eventually leads to increases in BDNF within the brain,' Barha explained.
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Walking daily may protect your brain from Alzheimer's, reveals 10-year study
If you've been looking for a reason to lace up your shoes and hit the pavement, a recent long-term study may be the motivation you need. Walking daily has been linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline, especially for those with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. The effects of walking extend beyond mere physical exercise; they also have a positive impact on brain health(Unsplash) The findings are based on a comprehensive study published in the journal JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, which tracked nearly 3,000 participants aged 70 to 79 over the years. Researchers noted their daily walking habits and found that maintaining or increasing these habits led to improved processing speed and executive function, key aspects of cognitive health. Dr Cindy Barha, the study's lead author and an assistant professor at the University of Calgary, emphasised the importance of combating sedentary behaviour. She suggests incorporating short walking sessions throughout the day to break up long periods of sitting. What is Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer's disease is a complex disorder that represents a severe form of dementia. It is characterised by the accumulation of harmful plaques in the brain, which disrupt communication between nerve cells and eventually lead to their death. As nerve cells deteriorate, individuals may encounter: Memory loss: Difficulty recalling recent events or personal experiences. Difficulty recalling recent events or personal experiences. Confusion: Disorientation, especially in familiar environments. Disorientation, especially in familiar environments. Personality changes: Noticeable shifts in behaviour or mood. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, making prevention strategies increasingly important. What is the role of genetics in Alzheimer's disease? Genetic factors play a significant role in one's likelihood of developing Alzheimer's. "Notably, a gene variant known as APOE4 can make it more challenging for the brain to remove the plaques associated with the disease. Approximately 15% to 25% of the population carries this variant, which can only be identified through genetic testing," neurologist Dr Neha Kapoor tells Health Shots. How does Alzheimer's affect the mind and body? While the study didn't prescribe a specific walking routine, Dr Barha proposed that breaking up periods of inactivity with multiple short walks throughout the day can greatly benefit cognitive health. Walking recommendations Frequency: Aim for multiple short walking sessions throughout the day. Aim for multiple short walking sessions throughout the day. Consistency: Maintain a steady walking habit from year to year. Maintain a steady walking habit from year to year. Goal: A previous study published in JAMA Neurology suggested that walking approximately 3,800 steps per day can reduce the risk of dementia by 25%. Also read: Walking 7,000 steps is good enough, says new study What happens to the brain during Alzheimer's? The effects of walking extend beyond mere physical exercise. They also have a positive impact on brain health. Here are a couple of theories explaining how regular physical activity may promote cognitive function: Increased BDNF production: Exercise boosts the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein crucial for neuronal growth and connectivity. Dr Barha explains that muscular activity seems to release proteins that travel to the brain, enhancing BDNF levels. Exercise boosts the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein crucial for neuronal growth and connectivity. Dr Barha explains that muscular activity seems to release proteins that travel to the brain, enhancing BDNF levels. Reduction in neuroinflammation: 'Physical activity may also mitigate neuroinflammation, a common issue in Alzheimer's patients. The brain dispatches immune cells called microglia to clear away plaque, but chronic inflammation can lead them to attack healthy cells as well. Regular exercise can improve the functioning of these microglia,' shares Dr Kapoor. Every step truly counts. Dr Christiane Wrann, another expert associated with the study, highlighted that it's never too late to begin an exercise routine. Whether you're a seasoned walker or a newcomer, the key takeaway is to find an activity you enjoy and stick to it. Tips for getting started:
