University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: exercise

Taking Steps to Slow Decline: New Study Examines the Role of Physical Activity on Alzheimer’s Progression

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10,000 – that’s the magic number of steps often recommended for a healthy lifestyle. With recent research looking into whether that number is an accurate benchmark for health, could the number of steps taken per day have an impact on brain health and, specifically, cognitive decline? That’s precisely what a new study from Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham sought to examine, looking at how physical activity, specifically step count, impacted cognitive decline for those living with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Bri Breidenbach and Sarah Lose join the podcast to break down the results of this new study, as well as share what current research says about the effect of other kinds of physical activity, such as different intensity exercises, on the brain and Alzheimer’s progression.

Guests: Bri Breidenbach, PhD, scientist, exercise physiologist, Okonkwo Lab, and Sarah Lose, MS, research program manager, exercise physiologist, Okonkwo Lab, UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Reviewing the Six Pillars of Brain Health

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In this compendium episode, we review some of the best information and research that we’ve shared on the six pillars of brain health. With excerpts highlighting the importance of physical activity, diet, sleep, social engagement and more, our six guests show that there are numerous evidence-based lifestyle interventions that a person can incorporate into their daily lives to improve their brain health and delay the onset of or reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Do Non-Medicinal Interventions Reduce Dementia Risk? Studies are Inconclusive, Here’s Why

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In 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report showing promising but inconclusive evidence suggesting that interventions like cognitive training, blood pressure control and increased physical activity reduce a person’s risk for dementia, but what does the research show now? Dr. Luke Stoeckel from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) joins the podcast to share where the research on lifestyle interventions is at, why studies on these interventions are difficult to complete and more.

Guest: Luke Stoeckel, PhD, program director, Mechanistic and Translational Decision Science Program, Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR), NIA

Research Update: Aerobic Exercise and Brain Health

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Aerobic exercise is often a recommendation for maintaining cognitive well-being, however its true connections to brain health are still being investigated to learn its effects on Alzheimer’s disease. Wisconsin ADRC exercise physiologist and researcher Max Gaitán joins the podcast to discuss the recent pilot study “Protocol of Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Health (REACH)” and the study’s future research into the impact of aerobic exercise on brain health.

Guest: Max Gaitán, MEd, Research Specialist, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Medicine

Building the Brain: Finding the Cognitive Benefits of Physical Activity

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To many people, exercise can seem like an uncertain and intimidating new world. The confusing marketing around it can make it hard to find a healthy, sustainable exercise plan. But it’s important for people to fit movement into their lives because a growing body of research is showing the positive effects that physical activity can have on your brain. Our guests Sarah Lose and Max Gaitan, research specialists and exercise physiologists, discuss building cognitive resilience, defining physical activity, and researching exercise and its links with brain health.

Guests: Sarah Lose, Max Gaitan, Research Specialists and Exercise Physiologists, Okonkwo Lab, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Finding the Link Between High Blood Pressure and Dementia

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Preventive cardiologist Dr. Heather Johnson joins us this week to discuss how keeping a healthy cardiovascular system can reduce chances of developing dementia. She also discusses her MyHEART study, which aims to help young adults live heart-healthy lives.

Guest: Dr. Heather Johnson, cardiologist with special interest in preventive cardiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Impacts of Exercise on Brain Health

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Recent research from the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center has shown the protective benefits of exercise in maintaining brain health and preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

Guest: Ozioma Okonkwo, PhD, assistant professor, Division of Geriatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and neuropsychologist, UW Health Memory Clinic