Increasing physical activity during midlife and later life can significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Currently, an estimated 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, a number projected to rise to 78 million by 2030 and 150 million by 2050. Although some new medications can slow disease progression, there is still no cure. To determine when in adulthood physical activity most influences dementia risk, researchers analysed data from 4,300 dementia-free participants: 1,526 in early adulthood (ages 26–44), 1,943 in midlife (45–64), and 885 in late life (65–88).
After measuring the participants’ exercise levels, they were grouped into five categories according to their physical activity, ranging from lowest to highest. They were followed for an average of 37.2, 25.9 and 14.5 years, respectively, to track the onset of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. During this period, 567 cases of all-cause dementia were recorded.
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Participants with the highest levels of physical activity in midlife and late life had a 41 per cent and 45 per cent lower risk of all-cause dementia, respectively, compared with those with the lowest activity levels. Exercise intensity was particularly important in midlife, where high-intensity activity was linked to the lowest dementia risk. However, among older adults, dementia risk did not differ based on exercise intensity.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the findings underscore the importance of staying physically active, particularly during midlife, to support brain health as you age.
