Jogging from 40 can help battle against strokes
JOGGING or cycling from the age of 40 could help protect hundreds of thousands of Britons from the debilitating effects of a stroke, according to a study.
Scientists have found that regular aerobic exercise beginning in middle age could leave your brain with the blood vessels of a 16-year-old by the time you reach your 70s.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, causing long-term brain injury often with devastating side effects.
Every year there are about 152,000 strokes in Britain, equating to one every three and a half minutes.
Most people affected are over 65 and it is the fourth biggest killer after dementia, heart disease and cancer.
In the study, US researchers focused on blood vessels running alongside the main coronary ones that allow blood flow to be re-routed when these major arteries narrow.
These vessels shrink as the brain ages and vary greatly in size and number from one person to the next.
Therapies
Researchers said the damage after a stroke and the effectiveness of treatment depend significantly on the extent of such collateral circulation.
Using 60 mice, they also found that the reduction of collateral vessels was prevented by exercise.
Rodents that started exercising regularly at 12 months old had the same abundance of collateral vessels when they reached 25 months as seen at three months.
In human years, this would be equivalent to beginning regular aerobic exercise, such as cycling or jogging, at 40 and at 70 finding these life-saving vessels were as good as when aged 16.
Their non-exercising mice had fewer collaterals of smaller diameter.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina presented their findings at the American Heart Association’s international stroke conference in Houston.
Dr James Faber, from the university, said: “Variation in anatomic extent of the collateral circulation is an important determinant of variation in the severity of ischemic stroke and efficacy of revascularisation therapies.” The Stroke Association said most can be prevented by making simple lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol and exercising more.
Research shows that regular moderate exercise can reduce your risk of stroke by 27 per cent.
The Stroke Association said: “Any amount of exercise will help.
“But if you can manage it, you should aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week.”