The Relationship Between Weightlifting and Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

A new study suggests that weight training may help protect the brains of older adults from dementia. The benefits of weightlifting were also observed in those already showing signs of mild cognitive impairment.

"We chose to study resistance training because its primary goal is to increase muscle strength, which is crucial for older adults," said Dr. Isadora Ribeiro, from the University of Campinas, Brazil.

Benefits of Weightlifting

"Our experiments have shown that increased muscle strength is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and improved cognitive function," she added.

For this study, researchers recruited 44 people aged 55 and older who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.

Participants were divided into two groups. The weight-training group participated in a resistance training program with moderate-to-high intensity sessions twice a week, with progressive loads, meaning the weight or sets increased as the participants' muscles strengthened.

The control group did not exercise throughout the study.

Key Study Findings

According to Medical News Today, after six months, participants in the weight training group showed improvements in verbal episodic memory, neuronal strength, and brain regions associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In contrast, participants in the control group showed signs of deterioration in brain markers.

Ribeiro said, "This is an interesting finding because it suggests that weight training may not only help improve cognition but also prevent the development of degeneration in areas associated with Alzheimer's disease, potentially delaying or even preventing the onset of the disease."