Multiple sclerosis patients may improve cognition with regular walking, cycling, and yoga: Study

                                                                  

 Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may improve cognition with regular walking, cycling, and yoga, according to research. The study found that increasing exercise and physical activity can help multiple sclerosis patients improve cognition. Cognitive problems are common among multiple sclerosis patients as the report explained, “Cognitive dysfunction in MS is associated with negative health consequences, including depression, reductions in quality of life, and loss of independence, as well as the loss of driving ability.”

Exercise is known to improve brain function and may help increase protection of the central nervous system cells. To date, there have only been three studies that looked at the beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive function in multiple sclerosis.

For the study, researchers looked at three different kinds of exercise and physical activity in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who did not have identified problems with mental processing speed. The exercises consisted of 20 minutes of moderate intensity treadmill walking, moderate intensity cycling, and guided yoga.

Results in the exercising groups were compared to results in the quiet rest group with no exercise.

All three exercises were shown to have positive effects on cognitive function with treadmill walking showing the greatest benefits.

The researchers concluded, “The present results support treadmill walking as the modality of exercise that might exert the largest beneficial effects on executive control in persons with relapsing-remitting MS without impaired cognitive processing speed. This represents an exciting starting point for delineating the appropriate exercise stimulus (i.e., modality and intensity) for inclusion in a subsequent longitudinal exercise training intervention for improving cognitive performance in this population.”

Continue Reading

Visit our MS Learning Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/msviewsandnews