And In fact, researchers suggest that a simple breathing exercise could theoretically reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Simply inhale, count to five, and then exhale for the same amount of time, the Daily Mail explains, citing research.

According to the study available at natureIt was found that this exercise — when done for 20 minutes, twice a day, over the course of four weeks — reduces the amounts of beta-amyloid in the blood.

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In case you didn’t know, the paper adds, groups of these proteins have, over the past few decades, been associated with disease, and in fact, many neurologists believe this is the cause.

Researchers at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California in the US believe that exercise has this effect because it affects heart rate, which affects the nervous system, as well as the way the brain produces and disposes of these toxic proteins. However, they still haven’t found out what exactly the connection is.

To test their theory, the scientists recruited 108 individuals, ranging in age from 18 to 30, but also between 55 and 80. Everyone was asked to do this breathing exercise for 20 minutes twice a day for four weeks while being monitored. Blood samples were taken before and after exercise.

Also read: A new blood test can accurately detect Alzheimer’s risk