Exercise may prevent MS brain injury, study showsRSS Feed

24 February 2010

Acquired brain injury that results from multiple sclerosis (MS) brain matter deterioration could be curbed with exercise, new research suggests.

Highly-fit patients with MS performed better on cognitive function tests than similar less-fit patients, according to researchers at the University of Illinois.

MRI scans revealed that fitter MS patients showed less damage in parts of the brain that deteriorated as a result of MS.

Healthier patients also had a greater volume of vital grey matter.

Assistant professor of psychology at the university Ruchika Prakash explained that aerobic fitness appeared to have a "protective effect" on those parts of the brain typically effected by MS.

She said: "As a result, these fitter patients actually show better performance on tasks that measure processing speed.

"Physically fit MS patients had fewer lesions compared to those who weren't as fit and the lesions they did have tended to be smaller."

Meanwhile, research published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry earlier this month suggested that exercise may increase the volume of particular areas of the brain in those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

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