According to a recent small study, older adults with mild cognitive impairment might benefit from moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise training, just in 1 year. The study showed that the training was able to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, cerebral blood flow regulation, memory and executive function (f.e. planning, prioritizing, decision making). Because of these significant improvements, the researchers assume that exercise training can also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, as mild cognitive impairment is a precursor stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

So, how much you need to exercise to achieve these health benefits? In the study, the one year of exercise training was devided into 3 periods of walking brinskly:

1-10 week: 3 times/week for 25–30 minutes per session;

11-25 week: 4 times/week for 30–35 minutes per session;

26-52 week: 5 times/week for 30–40 minutes per session.

In their follow-up study the researchers aim to define the long-term impact of aerobic exercise on Alzheimer’s disease.

Curious? HERE is the source