A recent study from the University of California San Diego’s Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science has revealed that senior women engaging in mild-to-vigorous physical activity daily have a lower risk of developing dementia or cognitive impairment.
Physical activity lowers the risk of developing dementia
In the January issues of Alzheimer’s & Dementia, researchers reported that in women above 65, moderate-to-vigorous exercise at least 31 minutes daily were at 21% lower risk of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Interestingly the risk was 33% lower with extra 1,865 steps daily.
Senior study author Andrea LaCroix said that considering the onset of cognitive decline begins 20 years or more before symptoms start showing, early intervention is necessary for preventing or delaying dementia and cognitive decline in older adults. LaCroix is a Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science professor at UC San Diego.
Although there are various forms, dementias are crippling neurological disorders that can impair memory, thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning skills. A mild cognitive decline is a form of memory problem or difficulty thinking that is earlier than dementia and less severe.
The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that over 5 million people have dementia. By 2050, the number is anticipated to double. Surprisingly, women are at an increased risk of cognitive decline than men.
Physical activity among promising approaches to lowering the risk of dementia
Among the best approaches to lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is physical activity. Since dementia is extremely hard to slow down or cure once it has been identified, prevention is crucial. There is no remedy.
First study author Steve Nguyen said that because few studies have evaluated device measures of sitting and movement relative to dementia and cognitive decline, most of the latest findings on relationships between exercise and cognitive decline are based on self-reported measures. Nguyen said the results have public health and clinical implications since there is little published data on the intensity and amount of physical activity necessary to lower dementia risk.
