The EXERT trial, involving nearly 300 sedentary older adults with mild cognitive impairment, compared the effects of exercise groups to those receiving standard care.

The social and intellectual stimulation from participating in the research itself may have contributed to the observed cognitive stability among participants.

The findings were published in two papers in 'Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association' and underscore the importance of exercise for cognitive health.

The trial's design aimed to enhance community implementation potential by bringing exercise interventions closer to home for participants.

Participants in the study engaged in either moderate to high-intensity aerobic training or low-intensity stretching, balance, and range of motion activities three to four times a week for a full year under YMCA supervision.

Lead author Dr. Aladdin Shadyab highlighted the critical need for early intervention in individuals at high risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia, noting that approximately 16% of those with mild cognitive impairment progress to Alzheimer's each year.

The findings from the EXERT study revealed that cognitive function remained stable over 12 months in both exercise groups compared to those who received usual care without exercise.

Additionally, both exercising groups experienced less brain volume loss, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is essential for cognitive function.

Experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, emphasizing that consistency is more crucial than intensity for cognitive health.

Notably, EXERT collaborated with the YMCA to facilitate community-based exercise interventions, making it one of the first large clinical trials of this type.

Previous studies on the benefits of exercise for cognitive health have been inconsistent, highlighting the need for large, well-designed trials like the EXERT study.

These results suggest that regular exercise, even at lower intensities, could significantly aid in delaying cognitive decline for older adults at high risk of dementia.