Lead author Amal Wanigatunga emphasizes that increasing physical activity, even in small increments, is crucial for older adults, especially in light of the absence of a cure for dementia.

This significant research was published online on January 15, 2025, in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, and was funded by the National Institute on Aging.

Wanigatunga suggests that future clinical trials should investigate the effects of low-dose exercise as a potential strategy for dementia prevention.

The study underscores the importance of lifestyle changes, including better management of cholesterol and blood pressure, alongside increased physical activity, to help mitigate dementia risk as age increases.

A recent study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that even small amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of dementia in older adults.

The research indicates that higher levels of physical activity correlate with even greater reductions in dementia risk, with a 60% reduction for 35 to 69.9 minutes of activity per week, 63% for 70 to 139.9 minutes, and a remarkable 69% for 140 minutes or more.

Dementia, primarily driven by Alzheimer's disease, currently affects around seven million people in the United States, with the prevalence increasing notably among those aged 85 and older.

Current health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, a target that many older adults, particularly frail individuals, find challenging to meet.

The study analyzed data from nearly 90,000 adults in the U.K. who used activity trackers to monitor their physical activity from February 2013 to December 2015, with health status followed until November 2021.