More daily walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduced dementia, cognitive impairment risk

A new study led by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Sciences at the University of California, Sun found that daily walking and more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in older women. less likely to develop disease. Diego.

In the January 25, 2023, online edition of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the team found that 31 additional minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day improved mild cognition in women aged 65 and older. 21% lower risk of developing disability or dementia. And for every 1,865 steps she took each day, the risk decreased by 33%.

Given that the onset of dementia begins more than 20 years before symptoms appear, early intervention is essential to slow or prevent cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly. ”

Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D., MPH, Senior Author, Distinguished Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego

Although there are several types, dementia is a debilitating neurological condition that can lead to loss of memory, thinking ability, problem-solving ability, or reason. Mild cognitive impairment is early-stage memory loss or thought disorder that is less severe than dementia.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 5 million people in this country have dementia. That number he is expected to double by 2050.

More women than men have dementia and are at higher risk of developing it.

“Physical activity has been identified as one of the three most promising ways to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Prevention is key because it’s so difficult, there’s no cure,” LaCroix said.

However, few large-scale studies have examined movement and sedentary device measurements in relation to mild cognitive impairment and dementia, so there is little evidence of the association between physical activity and sedentary behavior and cognitive decline and dementia. Many of the published studies are based on self-reported measurements. Lead author Steve Nguyen, Ph.D., M.P.H., Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wertheim School of Public Health, said:

In this study, researchers sampled data from 1,277 women as part of two Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) adjunct studies. WHI Memory Study (WHIMS) and Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (OPACH) Study. Women wore research-grade accelerometers and performed daily activities for up to 7 days to obtain accurate measurements of physical activity and sitting position.

According to the activity tracker, women took an average of 3,216 steps, spent 276 minutes of light physical activity, 45.5 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and spent 10.5 hours sitting. Examples of light physical activity include housework, gardening, and walking. Moderate to vigorous physical activity may include brisk walking.

The results of the study also showed that sitting more or for longer periods of time was not associated with a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

This information is clinically and public health important because there is little published information on the amount and intensity of physical activity required to reduce dementia risk, Nguyen said.

“Older people can be encouraged to increase at least moderate-intensity exercise and take more steps each day to reduce their risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

“The results of the step-per-day study are particularly noteworthy, as steps are recorded by a variety of wearable devices that are increasingly being worn by individuals and can be readily adopted.”

The authors said further studies in large and diverse populations, including men, are needed.

Co-authors are: John Bellettiere, University of California, San Diego. Kathleen M. Hayden and Stephen R. Rapp, Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Chongzhi Di, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Priya Palta, Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Marsha L. Stephanick, Stanford University School of Medicine. JoAnn E. Manson, Harvard Medical School. and Michael J. Lamonte, University of Buffalo – SUNY.