Move More, Think Better: How Exercise Can Lower Dementia Risk

A recent study suggests that increasing physical activity in midlife or later life can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Key Findings

• Midlife Activity: Over 26 years, those who were more active in midlife had a 40% lower risk of dementia.
• Later Life Activity: Higher activity levels in later life were linked to a 36% to 45% lower risk over 15 years.

Gene-Specific Results

• The benefits of midlife activity were only observed in individuals without the APOE4 gene (linked to Alzheimer's risk).
• Late-life activity reduced dementia risk regardless of APOE4 gene status.

How Exercise Helps the Brain

• Improves brain structure and function.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Benefits vascular function.
• May impact Alzheimer's disease pathology, such as beta-amyloid buildup.
• Contributes to cognitive reserve, delaying cognitive impairment.

Study Limitations

• Physical activity was self-reported, which may be unreliable.
• Early adulthood activity was not linked to all-cause dementia or Alzheimer's dementia, possibly due to a small number of cases in this age group.

Conclusion

Despite limitations, the study supports the idea that exercise can lower dementia risk, reinforcing the importance of physical activity for brain health.