NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exercise training may help some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stay mentally fit, a small study suggests.

COPD includes the lung diseases emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which are marked by progressively worsening shortness of breath and coughing, usually linked to smoking. For some patients, treatment involves exercise therapy to help control their breathing difficulties and maintain their quality of life.

In the current study, researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus found that a single session on a stationary bike appeared to improve COPD patients' performance on verbal tests.

They speculate that exercise--perhaps by increasing blood flow or through the release of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters--may give a short-term mental boost to people with COPD.

Dr. Charles F. Emery and colleagues reported the findings in a recent issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The researchers had 29 older adults with COPD perform tests of mental function immediately before and after one of two activities: exercising or viewing tapes on the health benefits of exercise. All participants performed both activities, one week apart. A group of healthy adults the same age was also tested.

The exercise session consisted of riding a stationary bike for about 20 minutes, under the supervision of a cardiologist.

Emery's team found that overall, COPD patients performed better on verbal tests after exercise, but not after viewing the videos. Exercise had no such effect on healthy participants, nor did it influence patients' scores on tests of short-term memory and attention.

According to the researchers, mental performance in these patients is of ``particular relevance'' because there is evidence that the low blood oxygen caused by COPD may impair brain function. They note that some studies have linked exercise to better mental performance among older adults without the lung disease.

Although it remains unclear how exercise might help mental functioning, Emery's team concludes that this study suggests physical activity has a distinct biological effect on the brain.

Why it enhanced only verbal acuity in this study is also unknown. But the researchers note that ``increased performance on this measure reflects greater ability to organize or sequence information.''

In the real world, they add, this could be important in such tasks as following directions for medical care.

SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

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