A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has linked higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) to dementia risk-reduction.
The research, undertaken by a Swedish team led by Prof Weili Xu of the Ageing Research Centre at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, analysed the health of 61,214 people who were aged between 39 and 70 when they enrolled in the UK Biobank study between 2009 and 2010, none of whom had dementia at the time. They were followed up for up to 12 years to see how their health progressed.
The researchers say:
“Our study shows that higher CRF is associated with better cognitive function and decreased dementia risk. Moreover, high CRF may buffer the impact of genetic risk of all dementia by 35%.”
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society, says:
“This research emphasises that exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and could reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life. But what is particularly promising about this study is that exercise also appears to reduce dementia risk in people who have a higher genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”
You can read the study here: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/10/10/bjsports-2023-108048