A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine finds that engaging in physical activity only on weekends could be as beneficial as regular exercise in preventing cognitive decline, a common precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
Numerous studies have already shown that practicing regular physical activity helps reduce overall cardiovascular risk or the development of certain cancers.
Getting moving would also help prevent certain neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, according to the Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer, practicing 150 minutes per week “helps prevent the reduction in brain volume, particularly in the hippocampus, often observed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This region is associated with memory and the production of new neurons.
Weekend Warriors
But when it comes to sport, which is more important, regularity or intensity? To find out, researchers in Mexico looked at a very specific profile of athletes, those we call “weekend warriors”. In short, those who, often due to lack of time during the week, concentrate all of their physical activity on two days.
The scientists followed more than 10,000 participants divided into three groups: the sedentary, those who practice during the week, and those who mainly devote themselves to it on the weekend. After 16 years of study, the results are particularly encouraging for those who have a busy schedule: compared to people who did not exercise, weekend athletes were less likely (-13%) to develop a disorder light cognitive. Compared to 12% for regular athletes!
“LThe protective effect of exercise on brain health can be explained in particular by the increase in neurotrophic factors (proteins responsible for the growth and survival of developing neurons and the maintenance of mature neurons – editor’s note) and brain plasticity“, explain the authors. “Physical activity is also associated with larger brain volume and better executive and memory functions.“
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