It is estimated that 7.2 million Americans over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, but the disease is not limited to the elderly. Although very rare, researchers believe so 200,000 people between the ages of 30 and 64 are also sufferingBut promising evidence continues to show the importance of exercise in protecting your mental health. New research from the University of California-San Francisco It has now been shown in mice that being active protects the brain from Alzheimer’s disease.
Groundbreaking work shows that physical activity triggers the liver to release specific enzymes that break down a harmful protein that causes the blood-brain barrier to thicken. By removing the harmful protein, this led to reduced inflammation and improved memory, potentially leading to a new approach to treating Alzheimer’s in humans. “This discovery shows how well the body can understand how the brain declines with age.” Commented by Saul Villeda, Ph.Dwho was the senior author on the paper.
How Much Exercise Supports Brain and Heart Health?
A few years ago, the team behind this important new study showed that exercise produced higher levels of the enzyme GPLD1 in the livers of mice. It seems that this in turn has a positive effect on the brain, but they did not understand how it works. Now they know. Apparently, GPLD1 travels to the blood vessels around the brain and destroys TNAP, a harmful protein that accumulates and weakens the blood-brain barrier, causing it to leak out and lead to Alzheimer’s disease. When the scientists reduced TNAP levels in mice with the equivalent human age of 70, the animals performed better on memory tests and had less inflammation. “We were able to use this mechanism late in life, in mice, and it still worked,” said Gregor Bieri, PhD, a postdoctoral scientist in Willeda’s lab and co-first author of the study.
The findings offer exciting potential for protecting our brain’s longevity. By developing drugs that have the ability to cut proteins like TNAP, medical science may offer a new strategy to restore the brain barrier even after it weakens with aging. “We’re uncovering a biology that Alzheimer’s research has largely overlooked,” Villeda said. “It could open up new therapeutic possibilities beyond traditional strategies that focus almost exclusively on the brain.”
How Much Exercise Supports Brain and Heart Health?
Because these results need to be replicated in humans, the frequency with which we need to do this to potentially lower TNAP levels is still being determined, but following the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines is a good place to start, and it also benefits heart health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. You should also include at least two strength or resistance exercises in your schedule every week and make sure hit all major muscle groups. Your mind may thank you for your efforts.
