Alzheimer’s risk cut in half by exercising for an hour a week, one-third of cases avoidable, U.K. study suggests
Laura Donnelly, The Daily Telegraph, National Post Wire Services | July 14, 2014 | Last Updated: Jul 14 12:13 PM ET
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Chris Young/The Canadian Press filesExercise may be the single biggest thing that older people can do to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, since getting regular physical activity, even in small amounts, can help stave off a laundry list of other risk factors.
Just one hour of exercise a week can halve the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease, claims a study that ranks the seven lifestyle threats driving the rising levels of dementia.
The research by Cambridge University says one in three cases of the condition could be prevented by increased activity levels, a cut in smoking and tackling health problems such as obesity and diabetes. The study, published in the Lancet Neurology Monday, is the first to quantify the combined impact of lifestyle factors influencing dementia.
It identifies exercise as the most significant protection against the condition.
Those who failed to do three 20-minute bursts of vigorous exercise a week, such as jogging or football, or five 30-minute sessions of moderate activity, such as walking, were 82 per cent more likely to go on to develop dementia.
Obesity in midlife increased the risks of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease by 60%, while high blood pressure raised the threat by 61%, the analysis found.
The study follows growing evidence that efforts to maintain a healthy heart also protect against dementia.Smoking was found to increase dementia risks by 59%, while those with diabetes were 46% more likely to develop dementia.
Reduced blood flow to the heart, caused by a poor diet or lack of exercise, can reduce blood flow to the brain.
The new research led by Cambridge University examined almost a decade of studies on each of the risk factors for dementia, using new models to calculate the overall proportion of dementia that could be prevented.
Other factors found to sharply increase the risk of dementia included depression and lower levels of educational attainment, the study found.
The research published Monday is the first to conclude that one in three cases of dementia could be avoided by changes in lifestyle.
Carol Brayne, the study’s lead author and a professor from Cambridge University, said: “Although there is no single way to prevent dementia, we may be able to take steps to reduce our risk of developing dementia at older ages.”
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