We say it, we repeat it, we hammer it home: physical activity is excellent for your health. Exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes a day, without necessarily forcing) helps to keep most chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular, at bay. And at any age! A new study from the American Academy of Neurology, whose results were published on February 27, 2022, show that people in good physical shape would also reduce their risk of dementia by a third compared to those with less physical activity. Even small gains in heart and lung health can have a beneficial impact on health.
The study was conducted among 649,605 military veterans with an average age of 61 years. They were followed for nine years and did not have Alzheimer’s disease at the start of the study. The researchers focused on the “cardiorespiratory fitnessof participants, a measure of the body’s ability to transport oxygen to muscle and their ability to absorb oxygen during exercise.
The participants were divided into five groups, from “least fit” to “most fit”. And the results are unequivocal: the fittest people are 33% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those in poorer physical condition. “The idea that you can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease is very promising, especially since there are no adequate treatments to prevent or stop the progression of the disease.“, said Edward Zamrini, author of the study.
“We hope to develop a simple scale that can be individualized so people can see the benefits that even incremental improvements in fitness can bring.“, he concludes.
Cycling, running, swimming… All sports are good against Alzheimer’s disease
This is not the first time that the merits of sport have been touted to deal with Alzheimer’s. In January 2022, a study from the University of California – San Francisco showed that physical activity would be particularly beneficial for protecting the brains of seniors.
Published in the specialized journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Associationthe study then focused on medical data concerning nearly 400 volunteers aged 80-90 on average, and mainly women.
Verdict? Scientists found that seniors who remained active on a daily basis (i.e.: who regularly practiced walking, fitness, swimming, cycling, yoga, etc.) showed connections between their neurons more ” solid” than the others. In particular, the researchers measured higher levels of a specific protein, known to facilitate exchanges between neurons.
They had also previously found that physical activity could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly: “in adults who exercise regularly, the neurotoxicity cascade leading to Alzheimer’s disease appears to be attenuated“they write.
What is the best sport against Alzheimer’s disease? According to a team of British researchers (who carried out a study on the question in October 2020), the best sport against Alzheimer’s disease would be… swimming in cold water. We try ?
Sources:
- “Physical fitness linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, American Academy of Neurology”, February 27, 2022
- “Late-life physical activity relates to brain tissue synaptic integrity markers in older adults”, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s AssociationJanuary 7, 2022
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