In a new study from the Washington VA Medical Center, researchers found people who are more physically fit are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than people who are less physically fit.
In the study, the team used data from 649,605 military veterans in the Veterans Health Administration database with an average age of 61 who were followed for an average of nine years.
They did not have Alzheimer’s disease at the start of the study.
Researchers determined participants’ cardiorespiratory fitness. Cardiorespiratory fitness is a measure of how well your body transports oxygen to your muscles, and how well your muscles are able to absorb oxygen during exercise.
The participants were divided into five groups, from least fit most fit. Fitness levels were determined by how well participants did on a treadmill test.
This test measures exercise capacity, the highest amount of physical exertion a person can sustain.
For people who are middle-aged and older, the highest level of fitness can be achieved by walking briskly most days of the week, for two and a half hours or more per week.
The team found the group with the lowest level of fitness developed Alzheimer’s at a rate of 9.5 cases per 1,000 person-years, compared to 6.4 cases per 1,000 person-years for the fittest group.
When researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, they found that the people in the most fit group were 33% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those in the least fit group.
The second most fit group was 26% less likely to develop the disease, while the middle group was 20% less likely and those in the second least fit group were 13% less likely to develop the disease than those in the least fit group.
The team says the idea that you can reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease by simply increasing your activity is very promising, especially since there are no adequate treatments to prevent or stop the progression of the disease.
They hope to develop a simple scale that can be individualized so people can see the benefits that even incremental improvements in fitness can deliver.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about a noninvasive treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, and this sleep-related brain activity can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about new early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and results showing this new treatment may stop development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study was presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 74th Annual Meeting and was conducted by Edward Zamrini et al.
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