Exercise may reduce risk of memory loss
Research suggests that adults who have problems with their memory could benefit from doing more exercise.
Scientists at the University of Melbourne carried out a study to find out whether physical activity reduced the rate of cognitive decline among 138 adults over the age of 50, all of whom had memory problems but did not have dementia.
Half of the participants took part in a 24-week exercise programme, most commonly including walking.
Extra 142 minutes a week
The researchers found that participants who exercised - typically for an extra 142 minutes per week - tended to have better cognitive function than those who did not.
Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers said: "To our knowledge, this trial is the first to demonstrate that exercise improves cognitive function in older adults with subjective and objective mild cognitive impairment.
"The benefits of physical activity were apparent after six months and persisted for at least another 12 months after the intervention had been discontinued."
The risks of living longer
Writing in an accompanying editorial, Dr Eric Larson from Seattle's Group Health Centre for Health Studies noted that more people are living to an age where their risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia is substantially increased.
"In addition to traditional medical approaches to prevent this dreaded disease, social factors such as providing universal education, general medical care, a suitable environment, adequate nutrition, habitual exercise, and opportunities for continued social interactions throughout the lifespan also may contribute significantly to improve wellbeing in late life," he added.