Good news for people who skipped the gym today – weekend warriors may be just as likely to lower their risk of mild dementia as gym rats, a new study finds.
Over 10,000 middle-aged Mexican residents were divided into four groups based on their exercise habits – non-exercisers, weekend warriors who exercised/played sports once or twice a week, regularly active people who exercised three or more times a week. multiple times a week and a combination group. of weekend warriors and regularly active people.
Researchers from Chile and other countries monitored the participants for an average of 16 years and had them undergo an assessment to see if they developed mild cognitive impairment, which is often a precursor to dementia.
About 2,400 cases of cognitive decline were identified, representing 26% of non-exercisers, 14% of weekend warriors and 18.5% of the regularly active group.
After accounting for age, education, tobacco use, sleep patterns, diet and alcohol consumption, the study authors determined that weekend warriors were 25% less likely to develop mild dementia than those who did not exercise.
Regularly active people reduced their odds of mild cognitive impairment by 11% and the combined group by 16%.
The researchers also looked at about 450 people whose scores on the assessment put them in line for a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.
Compared to non-exercisers, weekend warriors were 13% less likely to develop mild dementia under the adjusted parameters.
The regularly active group and the combined group each had 12% reduced odds. The results were similar for men and women.
“To our knowledge, this is the first prospective cohort study to show that the weekend warrior physical activity pattern and the regularly active physical activity pattern are associated with similar reductions in the risk of mild dementia,” the researchers wrote Tuesday in British Journal of Sports Medicine.
They estimate that 13% of cognitive decline could be avoided if all middle-aged adults exercised at least once or twice a week.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans say that each week, adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity — which can be spread over several days or done all at once — and two days of muscle strengthening.
Physical activity is known to improve brain health in various ways.
“Exercise can increase concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor [molecules that support the growth and survival of neurons] and brain plasticity”, write the authors of the study. “Physical activity is also associated with greater brain volume, greater executive function and greater memory.”
There were several limitations to the study, including that participants reported their history of dementia and physical activity, which was not objectively measured.
However, the study authors say their findings have “important implications for policy and practice, because the physical activity pattern of weekend warriors may be a more appropriate option to occupy.
people in Latin America and elsewhere.”
A separate study, published last month, found that weekend warriors can lower their risk of developing 264 diseases just as well as people who work all week.
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