Der Demenz davonlaufen?

Zusammenfassung

Demenzielle Veränderungen sind in hohem Maße für Krankheitskosten und Mortalitätsrisiko verantwortlich. Ein früher Marker für Demenz könnte die Veränderung der Ganggeschwindigkeit sein. Bereits milde kognitive Einschränkungen beeinträchtigen die Kontrolle der Motorik und erhöhen das Risiko für Stürze und Verletzungen. Aerobe körperliche Aktivität wie Gehen trägt langfristig dazu bei, das Demenzrisiko zu senken. Aerobes Training verbessert die Gehirnstruktur, indem es ein größeres Volumen im präfrontalen Cortex und Hippokampus bewirkt. Darüber hinaus steigert es auch Gehirnfunktionen wie Merkfähigkeit und Aufmerksamkeit. Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO empfiehlt älteren Menschen über 65 Jahren 150 Minuten moderate oder 75 Minuten anstrengende Aktivität pro Woche. Eine Leistungssteigerung ist allerdings nur möglich, wenn die Trainingsbelastung in Bezug auf Häufigkeit und Intensität kontinuierlich erhöht wird.

Abstract

Dementia-related changes are largely responsible for medical expenses and risk of mortality. A change in walking speed might be an early marker of dementia. Even mild cognitive impairments affect motor control and increase the risk for falls and injuries. Aerobic physical activity, such as walking, contributes to lowering the risk of dementia over the long-term. Aerobic exercise improves the brain structure by effective a larger volume in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, it also improves cerebral functions such as memory retention and attention. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that people older than 65 should undertake 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of strenuous physical activity per week. An improvement in performance is, however, possible only if the frequency and intensity of the exercise training are continuously increased.

Schlüsselwörter

Demenz - Mortalitätsrisiko - Gehen - kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit - aerobes Ausdauertraining - Gehirnstrukturen - Gehirnfunktionen

Keywords

dementia - mortality risk - walking - cognitive ability - aerobic endurance training - cerebral structures - cerebral functions

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