Exercise Helps Mild Brain Function Problem

Exercise seems to help prevent milder problems with thinking and memory. And it may bring improvements to people who do have the condition, called mild cognitive impairment. These are the findings of two new research studies. The first study included 1,324 people who did not have dementia. This is a serious problem with thought and memory. But 198 people had mild cognitive impairment, which can lead to dementia. This condition was less common among people who said they had done moderate exercise in middle or later life. The second study included 33 people with mild cognitive impairment. They were randomly assigned to an exercise program. People who followed the more intense program for six months showed improvement in their brain function. The studies appeared in the journal Archives of Neurology. HealthDay News wrote about them January 8.