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Exercise Reduces the Risk of Dementia
Sedentary behavior increases the risk of dementia and the risk of dying from dementia, according to data from the UK Biobank Cohort Study. Being sedentary for five to eight hours each day increased the risk of dementia by 7%, while being sedentary for more than eight hours each day increased the risk by 25%. Replacing sedentary time with exercise reduced the risk of dementia, particularly in those with a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.1 Regular exercise has also been found to improve brain function in individuals who have already been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.2
References
- Sun Y, Chen C, Yu Y, et al. Replacement of leisure-time sedentary behavior with various physical activities and the risk of dementia incidence and mortality: a prospective cohort study. J Sport Health Sci. 2023;12(3):287-294. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2022.11.005
- Du Z, Li Y, Li J, Zhou C, Li F, Yang X. Physical activity can improve cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Interv Aging. 2018;13:1593-1603. doi:10.2147/CIA.S169565
