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High-Intensity Walking Exercise and Episodic Memory Function: A Study by Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital Research Team

[건강이 최고] Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital research team identified the relationship between walking exercise and episodic memory function

Senile dementia (Alzheimer’s disease) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in older people. It is known that episodic memory impairment is especially common in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease dementia, and to date, there is no clear treatment other than symptom improvement drugs.

For this reason, it can be said that prevention through lifestyle modification is more important than treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Against this background, research results have shown that high-intensity walking exercise after middle age can slow or prevent cognitive decline related to Alzheimer’s disease.

This is the research result of the research team of Professor Ji-Wook Kim (corresponding author), Professor Young-Min Choi (first author), Professor Kook-Hee Seo, Professor Hyun-Soo Kim of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, and Professor Jong-Wan Kim of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital. The research results were published in the August issue of ‘Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy (Impact Factor 9)’, an international journal in the field of Alzheimer’s disease research and treatment.

The research team investigated the relationship between walking activity and cognitive function among 188 people aged 65 to 90 who participated in a cohort study at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, 107 with normal cognitive function and 81 with mild cognitive impairment.

The minimum walking time recognized as a walking activity was defined as a total of 32 hours per year, or 40 minutes per week for a year, or 2 hours per week for 4 months in a specific season. Walking activities were classified by frequency, duration, intensity, and starting age. In terms of walking activity time, the group was divided into ‘long time’ (50 people) for more than 6 hours per week, ‘short time’ (75 people) for less than 6 hours per week, and ‘non-walker’ (63 people) if the minimum walking activity level was not met. shared.

Classification according to the intensity of walking activity was divided into ‘high intensity’ (57 people), ‘low intensity’ (68 people), and ‘non-walking’ (63 people) groups according to breathing, sweating, ability to talk, etc. according to the exercise intensity measurement method of the Mayo Clinic in the United States. Sorted.

Depending on the time of starting walking activity, those who started walking between the ages of 40 and 64 were classified as ‘starting in middle age’ (103 people), and those who started walking at age 65 or older were classified as ‘starting in old age’ (22 people).

In addition, to control various influencing variables, nutritional evaluation through overall physical activity and dietary patterns, blood tests, and genetic testing related to Alzheimer’s disease were also conducted.

As a result of the analysis, compared to the ‘non-walking’ group, the walking group had higher cognitive function related to Alzheimer’s disease and had superior overall cognitive ability.

The ‘high-intensity’ group had superior overall cognitive ability, including Alzheimer’s disease-related cognitive functions, compared to the ‘non-walking’ group, but there was no difference in cognitive ability in the ‘low-intensity’ group compared to the other groups.

Additionally, the group that started walking in middle age had better overall cognitive abilities, including cognitive functions related to Alzheimer’s disease, than the group that started walking in old age.

On the other hand, walking activity time did not appear to have a significant effect on cognitive function when walking intensity was controlled.

Professor Ji-Wook Kim said, “This study showed that high-intensity walking activities that cause sweating and shortness of breath in middle age can slow or prevent cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.” He added, “The mechanism by which walking prevents cognitive decline related to Alzheimer’s disease is “It may not be known yet, but physical activity, including walking, regulates the level of amyloid-β protein, which causes Alzheimer’s disease, and promotes neuroplasticity to prevent brain function deterioration.”

Daeik Kwon Medical reporter [email protected]

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2023-09-14 01:58:26

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