THE ESSENTIAL
- Study finds that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), or the ability of your circulatory and respiratory systems to deliver oxygen to your muscles, can reduce the risk of dementia by 35%, even in people genetically predisposed.
- By following more than 61,000 participants over 12 years, researchers found that those with higher CRF had better cognitive functions and had the onset of dementia delayed by about 1.5 years.
- Although the study is observational, it suggests that strengthening one’s CRF, for example through exercise, could be a key strategy for protecting long-term brain health.
What if your physical endurance could protect your brain in the long term? A new study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicinereveals that cardiorespiratory fitness could not only improve your cognitive abilities, but also significantly reduce the risk of dementia, even if you are genetically predisposed to the disease.
Cardiorespiratory fitness that declines with age
Cardiorespiratory fitness (or CRF) reflects the effectiveness of your circulatory and respiratory systems in delivering oxygen to your muscles. Unfortunately, this capacity decreases with age: a drop of 3 to 6% per decade from the twenties, then an accelerated drop exceeding 20% per decade after the age of 70. This deterioration is not trivial, as a low CRF is a key indicator of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
In this study, researchers analyzed data from some 61,000 adults aged 39 to 70, all free of dementia at baseline. Participants completed a physical test on an exercise bike to assess their CRF, neuropsychological tests to measure their cognitive functions, and a genetic assessment to identify their predisposition to dementia. Result ? Over 12 years of follow-up, only 553 participants (0.9%) developed dementia, according to a press release.
Less dementia, even with high genetic risk
By classifying participants according to their CRF level, the researchers found that those with strong cardiorespiratory fitness enjoyed better cognitive performance and had a 35% reduced risk of dementia, including among genetically predisposed individuals. And if ever there was dementia, it developed almost a year and a half later compared to those with a low CRF.
These findings pave the way for more studies on the link between physical activity, brain health and the biological mechanisms that protect the brain. However, the authors emphasize that they must be taken with caution because the study, which is observational in nature, cannot prove a cause and effect link. In addition, the participants from the “UK Biobank”, generally in better health than the general population, could bias the results.
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