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A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University has mapped how physical activity affects the chance of developing dementia. They emphasized that less exercise than previously believed can still substantially reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
It turns out that just 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week is linked to a 41 percent reduction in the risk of developing dementia.
The team also found other encouraging results. Even the oldest among us can lower their chances of dementia by increasing weekly activity. Even a few minutes of exercise each week can have a protective effect on brain health.
“Our results showed that increasing physical activity by even five minutes a day can reduce the risk of dementia in older adults,” said epidemiologist Amal Vanigatunga, the lead author of the study.
How Was the Study Conducted?
The researchers analyzed data from 89,667 adults with an average age of 63. Over more than four years, they collected health information from volunteers using wrist-worn activity trackers.
The team tracked which participants later developed dementia and linked that information to their physical activity, as reported by Science Alert.
The results indicated that compared with those who did not exercise at all, the risk of dementia was 60 percent lower in participants who engaged in physical activity for 36–70 minutes per week, and 63 percent lower in those who dedicated 71–140 minutes to exercise.
For those who spent 140 minutes or more on physical activity each week, the risk of developing dementia decreased by 69 percent. These findings reinforce previous research linking exercise and brain health.
The team stressed that people at any stage of life can benefit from even small increases in activity.
“Even frail or nearly frail older adults can reduce their risk of dementia through low-dose exercise,” Dr. Vanigatunga said.
The researchers say more study is needed to understand why this connection exists. Still, it makes intuitive sense that a healthier body supports a healthier brain.
Previous studies have shown that exercise increases the size of brain regions associated with learning and memory.
Dr. Vanigatunga said a little exercise is better than none, especially for age-related brain diseases that currently have no treatment.
The study’s results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.
