The well-known benefits of weight training—including increased strength, muscle mass, fat loss, and enhanced mental well-being—now include brain health protection from dementia, according to a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo, Brazil.
Published in the journal GeroScience, the study reveals that strength training can help safeguard older adults against dementia, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)—a condition that lies between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease, and significantly increases the risk of developing dementia.
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The research involved 44 participants with MCI who engaged in twice-weekly weight training sessions over six months. Results showed not only improved memory performance but also positive changes in brain structure, including reduced atrophy in the hippocampus and precuneus, two regions commonly affected in Alzheimer’s disease.
Additionally, participants experienced improvements in white matter integrity, a key indicator of neural health and connectivity.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting resistance training for cognitive health, highlighting its potential role in preventing or delaying the onset of neurodegenerative conditions. As global rates of dementia continue to rise, weight training may become a powerful tool in promoting healthy aging and brain longevity.
“We already knew that there would be physical improvement. Cognitive improvement was also imagined, but we wanted to see the effect of weight training on the brains of older people with mild cognitive impairment. The study showed that, fortunately, weight training is a strong ally against dementia, even for people who are already at high risk of developing it,” says Isadora Ribeiro, a FAPESP doctoral fellowship recipient at UNICAMP’s School of Medical Sciences (FCM) and first author of the article.
The work was carried out within the framework of the Brazilian Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN) – a FAPESP Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) – and is the first to demonstrate what happens to the integrity of the white matter of individuals with mild cognitive impairment after weight training.
“As well as neuropsychological tests, we also performed MRI scans at the beginning and end of the study. These results are very important because they indicate the need to include more physical educators in the public health system at the primary health care level since increased muscle strength is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. It’s a less complex and cheaper treatment that can protect people from serious diseases,” comments Marcio Balthazar, BRAINN researcher and study supervisor.
“For example, the new anti-amyloid drugs approved in the United States indicated for the treatment of dementia and for people with mild cognitive impairment, cost around USD 30,000 a year. That’s a very high cost. These non-pharmacological measures, as we’ve shown is the case with weight training, are effective, not only in preventing dementia but also in improving mild cognitive impairment,” the researcher adds.
