New research shows that the first step to reducing the risk of cognitive decline associated with aging may be as easy as going for a regular walk.
Several studies have shown that regular physical activity is beneficial as part of a fully healthy lifestyle, and new research shared with global news also helps reduce the risk of cognitive decline associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
“More self-reported walking was associated with protection against global thinking and degradation of executive functioning in both men and women,” said Dr. Cindy Barha, a brain health and exercise researcher at the University of Calgary, who was part of the study.
“Therefore, physical activity, walking seems even more beneficial if there is a greater risk.
Barha's team will present the findings of the study at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Tuesday.
The study reported daily walking routines to researchers with approximately 3,000 participants in the course of 10 years, ranging from 70 to 79 years old.
Participants who started a study without cognitive impairment were tested every few years to measure cognitive function and speed, resulting in positive results.
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“Entering habitual physical activity can reduce these (cognitive decline) effects by maintaining global cognitive and executive function in older adults,” the study's report states.
“This underscores the importance of investigating lifestyle factors, such as habitual walking, as a potential intervention strategy to slow or prevent cognitive decline, particularly in populations at high genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.”
Participants also had genetic traits particularly associated with dementia and cognitive decline, such as genes that are at high risk for the development of Alzheimer's disease and types associated with genes that provide greater protection.
Participants with different genetic characteristics had mixed results when performing the test, but overall, physical activity was shown to help slow the reduction in patients at higher risk.
Exercise has been shown to add additional benefits to people with genes that already provide protection from cognitive decline associated with aging.
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Additionally, female participants showed significant benefits from regular exercise in most cases compared to male counterparts.
Barha says women benefit from exercise more than men because they are statistically at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This is reflected in the cognitive score.
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“Women who carry the APOE E4 version were at a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease compared to men with the same genes, and the higher amount of self-reported walking was associated with protection against global decline in thought and decreasing executive functioning in both men and women when they are APOE-4 carriers,” says Barha.
“You always need to exercise, whether you're a woman or a man, but if you're at a greater genetic risk, it may be more beneficial. Women are profiting a little more.”
Barha says that the baseline level walking level for the study is 15 minutes per day, and further research could be more detailed, including various levels of intensity, biological and geographical differences, as well as more controlled levels of exercise and self-report activities.
“The next step is to look at intervention trials in older adults who are at risk. Intervention in the different types of exercises that have this type of genetic risk factor and reach that personalization, the optimal dose, and what is the best type to prevent cognitive decline,” says Barha.
“In our case, when we are at risk for all Alzheimer's, we were looking at women. This is a risk factor, APOE4, this is a risk factor. Exercise is more important, but important to everyone, but even more important to you.”
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