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Reduce Alzheimer's risk: New studies show influence of simple breathing exercises

2023-05-10T03:27:00.797Z

Highlights: Researchers found that breathing exercise could lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Breathing lowers the level of toxic proteins by changing the heart rate. The researchers at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California found evidence in their research that a certain breathing exercise can reduce the number of toxic protein deposits (proteins) in the brain. The breathing exercises could be an inexpensive and low-risk way to lower beta-amyloid plasma levels and keep them low throughout adulthood.



Researchers found that breathing exercise could lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Breathing lowers the level of toxic proteins by changing the heart rate.

LOS ANGELES – Alzheimer's is one of the cruelest diseases in existence. It slowly robs those affected of their entire memory, to the point of complete loss of mental and physical abilities. All the more hopeful, therefore, are the results of a US study, which indicate that not only certain behavioral rules prevent senile dementia, but also a simple breathing exercise can significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers found that breathing exercise could lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. (Symbolic image) © Monkey Business 2/Imago

Alzheimer's disease: Protein deposits in the brain trigger symptoms

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain in which the accumulation of abnormal proteins leads to the death of nerve cells. As a result, the messengers that transmit messages are disrupted, and the brain shrinks. As brain cells die, the functions they provide are also lost. On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some live ten to fifteen years.

The disease can attract attention with the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty memorizing new information, surveying situations, or recognizing connections
  • Problems focusing on a thought or object
  • Loss of ability to express oneself linguistically (spoken and written) and to understand others
  • Trouble planning and organizing
  • Difficulty finding your way around in terms of time or place
  • Changes in social behaviors, impulse control, drive, mood or reference to reality
  • Depression, anxiety, or restlessness
  • Source: German Alzheimer's Society

Researchers Discover: Breathing Exercises May Lower Risk Factor for Alzheimer's

The researchers at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California found evidence in their research that a certain breathing exercise can reduce the number of toxic protein deposits (proteins) in the brain. Clumping of these toxic proteins or their deposition on the vessel walls has been strongly associated with Alzheimer's in recent decades, and neurologists suspect that they can even cause dementia.

Reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease: Researchers investigate the effect of simple breathing exercises

For the study, which was first published in Scientific Reports, the scientists recruited 108 participants aged 18 to 30 and 55 to 80 years. Over a period of four weeks, the participants, who were divided into two groups, were asked to perform a special exercise twice a day for 20 minutes each. The first group listened to quiet music or was encouraged to think of calming scenarios such as a walk in the park, while using a screen to ensure that the heart rate line remained as stable as possible.

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Alzheimer's study: Breathing affected heart rate and protein levels in the blood

The other group of participants was asked to keep their breathing in a certain rhythm: inhale for five seconds and then exhale again for five seconds. Participants, meanwhile, should watch their heart rate on the screen and try to increase these vibrations.

Blood samples were taken from participants at the beginning and after four weeks of breathing exercises to check amyloid beta peptide levels in the blood.

Researchers: Simple breathing exercise could help lower Alzheimer's risk

The result: The group that breathed slowly and tried to increase their heart rate variability through increased oscillations had less amyloid in their blood.

The breathing exercises could be an inexpensive and low-risk way to lower beta-amyloid plasma levels and keep them low throughout adulthood.

 Professor Mara Mather, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

Whether the breathing exercises ensure that less protein is produced or whether they promote the breakdown of the proteins is now to be clarified by further investigations. However, Professor Mara Mather, head of the Emotion & Cognition Lab at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, said: "Based on the data we have, the decline in amyloid beta appears to be more likely due to decreased production."

Reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease: Behavioural measures reduce dangerous proteins in the blood

The research team explained that their study is the first to demonstrate that behavioral interventions can reduce plasma levels of amyloid beta peptides. "Regular practice of slow breathing using HRV biofeedback could be a cost-effective and low-risk way to lower plasma amyloid beta levels and keep them low throughout adulthood," Mather said in a MedicalXpress press release.

At the end of 2021, almost 1.8 million people in Germany were living with dementia, according to figures from the German Alzheimer's Society, the most common dementia being Alzheimer's. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease usually do not appear until after the age of 65, but the first signs can appear nine years before diagnosis. (ulha)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-05-10

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