A New Approach for Cure of MCI

Four million Japanese are reportedly suffering from mild cognition impairment and, if left unattended for 4 years, a half of them would develop full cognition impairment. Here's a new approach suggested to help earlier detection of mild cognition impairment: Intensive Muscle Training.

Mild cognition impairment, commonly known as MCI, causes momentary forgetfulness but hardly affects daily life. It's cognition impairment in reserve. Director Teruyuki Motoyama of Sogo Nouryoku Kenkyujo (Comprehensive Ability Institute) who has 15 years to his credit in research of cognition impairment has this to say on the physical features of MCI patients:

"In general terms, MCI patients feel less fatigue and pain after repeated muscle training. This is probably because the functions of their sensory nerve are deteriorated."

Director Motoyama explains that when you move your body you brain will send signals to the muscles via your motor nerve and that when the muscles move your sensory nerve transmits stimuli to your brain. "MCI patients, however," says Motoyama, "their sensory nerve poorly links brains and muscles to properly transmit pains."

Based on the analysis, Director Motoyama suggests a muscle training whereby the thighs are heavily strained.
"If you feel no pain and go on being strained that way", he comments,"you are or will be liable to suffer from MCI." He further elaborates:

"Have someone spell any word on your back, and see how you can tell what word that is. MCI patients are obviously less sensitive to what this is."

Director Motoyama concludes that intensive muscle training helps awaken your sensory nerve to pains and fatigue and eventually improves your cognition functions. A report says Intensive muscle training once a week for three months helped restore MCI patients' memory score to the level of non-MCI persons.

Director Teruyuki Motoyama teaches at Olive Clinic Ochanomizu and is the author of "Don't Go Dotty; Train Your Muscles" (KADOKAWA)

News Source: Nikkei Shimbun