A study has found a potential link between exercise and the risk of developing dementia , suggesting that people could reduce their odds of developing the condition by more than a third if they are fit and healthy. Researchers tracked more than 60,000 participants over 12 years and found evidence suggesting that people in the “medium” or “high” risk group who had a high “cardiorespiratory fitness” (CRF) – which can be achieved through exercise – may be able to decrease their risk of developing dementia by 35 per cent. Commenting on their findings, academics from the Tianjin Medical University in China said that “enhancing CRF could be a strategy for the prevention of dementia, even among people with a high genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease”.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analysed data on participants in the UK’s Biobank study, with CRF referring to “the capacity of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to skeletal muscle mitochondria in order to meet the energy demands of physical activity.” At the start of the study, participants were given tests assessing their thinking and memory, how quickly they could process information, and a fitness exam to assess their CRF , measured after a stint on an exercise bike. Read Next How to cut your risk of dementia, from head to toe Researchers also analysed their “polygenic risk scores” by looking at whether each person had any common geneti.