"I don't have the data to suggest a correlation between brain perfusion and cognitive function, but this is something we eventually will see after this study is completed," he says. Whether the increased blood flow to the brain improves learning and reasoning has yet to be determined, says Dr. Amyloid-beta protein has been implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Second, the blood washes away brain metabolic wastes such as amyloid-beta protein released into the brain's blood vessels. ![]() First, the blood brings oxygen, glucose and other nutrients to the brain, which are vital for the brain's health. Our study indicates it might be tied to an improvement in the supply of blood flow to the brain."Ī steady, healthy flow of blood to the brain achieves two things. "There are many studies that suggest that exercise improves brain function in older adults, but we don't know exactly why the brain improves. Zhang, the results provide insight into how vascular health affects brain health. The women's VO2 max increased roughly 13%, their blood pressure dropped an average of 4%, and their heart rates decreased approximately 5%.Īccording to Dr. ![]() By the third month, the team had increased the sessions to 50 minutes each, four times per week, and added two more sessions at 70-80% of the women's VO2 max for 30 minutes.Īt study's end, the team measured blood flow in the women's carotid arteries again and found that cerebral blood flow increased an average of 15% and 11% in the women's left and right internal carotid arteries, respectively. Training started at a base pace of 50-60% of the participants' VO2 max for 30 minutes per session, three times per week. After assessing the women's physical health and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), which is the body's maximum capacity to transport and use oxygen during exercise, the team tailored training programs for each woman according to her fitness level. ![]() Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.Īt the beginning of the study, the researchers used Doppler ultrasonography to measure blood flow in the women's internal carotid arteries, which are located in the neck and supply the brain with necessary glucose and oxygen-rich blood. Rong Zhang, the lead researcher in the study, will discuss the team's findings in a presentation titled, "Aerobic exercise training increases brain perfusion in elderly women" at the Experimental Biology meeting (EB 2011), being held April 9-13, 2011 at the Walter E.
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