Which exercises might reduce pro-inflammatory and enhance anti-inflammatory substances in brains and bodies of older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD)? To answer that question, researchers searched the literature for relevant studies in both animal models and humans who had AD, MCI or dementia.

Their analysis of 11 human studies and 25 animal studies, and two articles that addressed both, suggests that:

- In older people with MCI, moderate-to high-intensity multimodal training (3 times/week) has an anti inflammatory effect.

- In older people with mild AD, both voluntary cycling training and moderate or high-intensity aerobic exercise are effective.

- In the mouse AD model, low-intensity treadmill training or high-intensity swimming training inhibits the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The authors offer possible mechanisms underlying the results, but stress that future studies are needed to elucidate the effect of different exercise protocols on AD stages, from preclinical to severe.

To read the full article, published in Experimental Gerontology, visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556523000621