EXERCISE AND SYMPTOMS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: WHAT HAS BEEN KNOWN SO FAR?

Auwal Abdullahi

Department of Physiotherapy

Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

email: therapistauwal@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Clinical studies in persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) reported severe decrements in cognitive functions and reduced cerebral blood flow or cerebral glucose utilization rate compared with age matched healthy counterparts. These derangements produce the clinical symptoms of AD. However, exercise has been widely reported to induce a number of growth factors: BDNF, IGF-1 and VEGF which enhance brain health through neurogenesis, plasticity and angiogenesis. Yet, the saddest point is that, despite this breakthrough in clinical sciences, only few of these patients benefit from this intervention. Therefore, a literature review like this is very necessary to delineate the rationales and effectiveness of exercise intervention in Neurodegenerative conditions like the Alzheimer’s disease.