by Good news for people who skipped the gym today: Weekend warriors might be just as likely to reduce their risk of mild dementia as gym rats, a new study suggests.
More than 10,000 middle-aged Mexican residents were divided into four groups based on their exercise habits: those who do not exercise, weekend warriors who exercise/played sports once or twice a week, regularly active people who exercised three or more times a week, and a combined group. weekend warriors and regularly active people.
Researchers in Chile and other countries followed the participants for an average of 16 years and gave them an assessment to see if they developed mild cognitive impairment, which is often a precursor to dementia.
Some 2,400 cases of cognitive decline were identified, representing 26% of the non-athletes, 14% of the weekend warriors and 18.5% of the regularly active group.
After taking into account age, education, smoking, sleep habits, diet and alcohol consumption, the study authors determined that weekend warriors were 25% less more likely to develop mild dementia than those who did not exercise.
Regularly active people reduced their risk of mild cognitive impairment by 11% and the combined group by 16%.
The researchers also considered about 450 people whose assessment results put them at risk for a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.
Compared to people who didn’t exercise, weekend warriors were 13% less likely to develop mild dementia under the modified parameters.
The regularly active group and the combined group each had a reduced probability of 12%. The results were similar for men and women.
“To the best of 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 risk of mild dementia,” the researchers wrote Tuesday in the journal. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
They estimate that 13% of cases of cognitive decline could be prevented if all middle-aged adults exercised at least once or twice a week.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans state 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 a variety of ways.
“Exercise can increase concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factors [molecules that support the growth and survival of neurons] and brain plasticity,” the study authors wrote. “Physical activity is also associated with greater brain volume, better executive function and better memory.”
The study had several limitations, including that participants reported their dementia history and physical activity, which were not measured objectively.
Nonetheless, the study authors say their findings have “important implications for policy and practice, as the weekend pattern of physical activity may be a more practical option for busy people.”
people in Latin America and elsewhere.
Another study, published last month, found that weekend exercisers can reduce their risk of developing 264 diseases just as well as people who exercise all week.
