新聞新知~走路有助於改善癡呆
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走路也可以讓腦部活動
By Meredith Melnick
Thursday, October 14, 2010
TIME Magazine
中文翻譯：
我經常因為喜歡徒步旅行，而被人嘲笑。我下班回家經常走3英哩的路，而不搭地鐵。當我來到行人徒步設施較少的城市，假如我的車子壞了或是需要一些幫助，會遇到善良的司機靠邊停車載我一程。但對我而言，走路是一個很好的機會，能釐清一整天的思緒，讓我心靈徜徉而不受家裡一堆待辦事情的影響。另外，它可以讓我坐在電腦前面彎曲一整天的背伸展。對此我一直認為這是個不錯的作為，而現在已出現更多證據支持我的看法。
一篇發表在Neurology的最新研究顯示，走路這個簡單的動作可以改善老年人的記憶。隨著我們年齡的增加，腦部會跟著萎縮，而萎縮率跟癡呆症和認知功能喪失有關。為了測試身體活動是否能改善這些退化的影響，匹茲堡大學的研究員紀錄了299位平均年齡78歲的健康男性女性的身體活動，這些受測者活動量每星期從0到300條街道距離(約30英哩)不等。
9年過後，受測者接受腦部掃描，結果呈現出：走了較多路的人腦部萎縮量較少。4年過後同樣的受測者再來測試老人癡呆症。有116人呈現記憶衰退或老人癡呆的症狀。那些每星期走最多路的：至少一星期72個街道(約7英哩)的人，所遇到的認知衰退問題比不常走路者減少了一半。
研究結果與過去身體活動與腦力相關的研究結果相符，但癡呆症專家表示，還是沒有足夠資料證實運動能預防記憶衰退。並且以此說明運動能預防人類終究會面臨的痴呆症狀也言之過早。但對阿茲海默症而言，即使一點點的減緩症狀，也能帶來生活品質的大大改善。
美國有線電視MSNBC報導：
儘管我們只延遲了阿茲海默症數個月到幾年不等的時間，但就目前我們所知的相關知識，已是關鍵性的改變，並可節省相關的醫療成本。研究作者Erickson表示，延遲癡呆症狀可減緩患者家庭所承受的精神負擔與相關問題。
所以，感謝好心的司機，我還是用走的好了。
英文原文：
I am often teased for my stubborn habit of traveling by foot. I often walk the 3 mi. home from work rather than take the subway. When I visit less pedestrian-friendly cities, kindhearted motorists regularly pull over and offer me a ride, assuming that my car has broken down or I'm in need of some help.
But for me, walking is a good opportunity to process the day and let my mind wander without the oppression of the endless to-do list that awaits me at home. Plus, it helps my back recover from a day spent bent in front of a computer screen. Health-wise, I have always assumed I'd have the last laugh, and now there's even more evidence on my side.
A study published in Neurology has found that the simple act of walking may improve memory in old age. As we age, our brains shrink and the shrinkage is associated with dementia and loss of cognitive functions such as memory. To test whether physical activity could mitigate some of these degenerative effects, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh tracked the physical activity of 299 healthy men and women with an average age of 78. The participants' activity ranged anywhere from walking 0 blocks to 300 blocks (up to 30 miles) per week.
Nine years later, the walkers underwent brain scans, which revealed that those who had walked more had greater brain volume than those who walked less. Four years after that, the volunteers were tested again — this time for dementia. Among the group, 116 people showed signs of memory loss or dementia. Those who had walked the most — at least 72 city blocks (or about 7 mi.) each week — were half as likely to have cognitive problems as those who walked the least.
The findings are in line with past studies linking physical activity with brain function, but dementia experts say there's not enough data yet to prescribe exercise to prevent memory loss. It's also too soon to say whether exercise may prevent dementia or simply delay it in people who would eventually develop it anyway. But when it comes to Alzheimer's, even a short delay could mean great gains in quality of life. MSNBC reports:
"Even if we are delaying [Alzheimer's disease] by several months or years, that's a significant improvement in what we know already, and a change in costs for treating health care," [study author Kirk] Erickson said. Delaying the condition could also ease the emotional burden and problems that come along with it, for both patients and their families, he said.
So, thanks, motorists. But I'll stick to hoofing it.
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資料來源：
TIME Magazine website：
http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/14/study-walking-is-a-brain-exercise-too/ Neurology, first published on October 13, 2010 as doi: doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181f88359
期刊Neurology出處：
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