2 days Ago By Kat Brown
A study has found a potential link between exercise and the risk of developing dementia , suggesting that people could reduce their odds of developing the condition by more than a third if they are fit and healthy. Researchers tracked more than 60,000 participants over 12 years and found evidence suggesting that people in the “medium” or “high” risk group who had a high “cardiorespiratory fitness” (CRF) – which can be achieved through exercise – may be able to decrease their risk of developing dementia by 35 per cent. Commenting on their findings, academics from the Tianjin Medical University in China said that “enhancing CRF could be a strategy for the prevention of dementia, even among people with a high genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease”.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analysed data on participants in the UK’s Biobank study, with CRF referring to “the capacity of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to skeletal muscle mitochondria in order to meet the energy demands of physical activity.” At the start of the study, participants were given tests assessing their thinking and memory, how quickly they could process information, and a fitness exam to assess their CRF , measured after a stint on an exercise bike. Read Next How to cut your risk of dementia, from head to toe Researchers also analysed their “polygenic risk scores” by looking at whether each person had any common genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia risk.
The group, who had an average age of 56 at the start of the study, were tracked for almost 12 years to see whether they were diagnosed with dementia. During the follow-up period, some 553 people were diagnosed with the condition. After comparing the information, the researchers found that people with high CRF appeared to have a 40 per cent reduced risk of dementia compared to people with low CRF.
They also discovered that people with high CRF who did develop dementia tended to develop it later in life compared to those who had low levels of CRF. And among people with a moderate or high polygenic risk score, high CRF “attenuated all dementia risk by 35 per cent”, they said. Dr Jacqui Hanley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said that nearly half of global dementia cases could be “prevented or delayed” by addressing 14 risk factors , including keeping active.
However, while she said this new research highlighted how good CRF could help lower the risk of developing dementia in the future, it is not known whether there is a direct link and more research is needed to see how it affects the brain. “Certain dementia risk factors we can’t change , like age and genetics,” she said. “Interestingly, this study also looked at cardiorespiratory fitness in people who had variations in their genes that increases their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers suggest that people who were in the ‘medium’ risk group who had a better cardiorespiratory fitness may be able to decrease their risk of developing dementia by 35 per cent. “Understanding this interaction more could reveal new ways to help prevent dementia from developing in people who are at a higher risk. “But what we do know is that dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing, and there are things we can all do to help reduce our risk of developing the condition in the future.
” Dr Richard Oakley of the Alzheimer’s Society said the research emphasised the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life : “It’s never too early or too late to make healthy changes, no matter what your genetic risk is. “However, this study did not consider specifically how exercise lowers risk. We would welcome more research to better understand the underlying mechanisms involved and how best to support people to make healthy changes to help end the devastation caused by dementia.
” Additional reporting by agencies.
