Dementia Japan 25: 98-103, 2011

Exercise as a means of prevention of dementia

Takashi Asada

Graduate School of Comprihensive Human Science, Tsukuba University

    Risk factors studies as to developing dementia such as Aizheimer disease have been identified several factors including genetics and heredity, gender, education, age, and soon.  Among them, exercise has attracted attention from a number of researchers.  Many population-based studies reported the positive association between the habit of exercise and better cognitive performance in the elderly people.  Recently, several interventional studies using aerobic exercise as a means of dementia prevention reported promising results.  It has been said that regular physical activity increases the endurance of cells and tissues to oxidative stress, vascularization, and neurotrophin synthesis.  To discuss the mechanism of positive impacts of exercise on cognition, we paid particular attention to the role of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).  However, extensive studies are required to understand the mechanism.

Address correspondence to Dr. Takashi Asada, Graduate School of Comprihensive Human Science, Tsukuba University (1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan)