Think of your brain as a muscle. Just like working out at the gym makes your muscles stronger, staying physically active can boost the strength and function of your brain. In a 19-year study, researchers examined the relationship between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and cognition, specifically in individuals who developed dementia compared to those who did not. They found that engaging in LTPA was associated with higher cognitive scores in people who did not develop dementia. However, for those in the preclinical phase of dementia, the association was not observed on global cognitive function. Interestingly, women in the preclinical phase had a positive association between LTPA and processing speed and memory, while men did not show such associations. This suggests that staying active can have a protective effect on cognitive function, especially in individuals who are at risk for developing dementia. It’s important to note that these findings cannot establish causality, and more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms. To learn more about this fascinating study, check out the full article!
IntroductionCognitive impairment is one of the main disabilities in dementia. Physical activity (PA) has been suggested as protective for dementia. However, the findings are disparate in studies, and the question of whether this is because of reverse causality is still open. We aimed to explore the association of PA with cognition in people who later developed dementia compared to those who did not.MethodSince 2001, 11,512 (55% women) participants over the age of 50 years had taken at least one cognitive test in the Tromsø Study. Of these, 1,123 (58% women) later developed dementia. The cases were extracted from hospital journals and entered into an endpoint registry. Leisure time PA (LTPA) was self-reported. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression was used to address whether LTPA was associated with cognition, stratified by those later developing dementia, and dementia-free in a separate analysis.ResultsLeisure time PA was associated with scores in cognitive tests that were 55% (z-score 0.14) higher in those who did not develop dementia. For those in a preclinical phase of dementia, there was no association with LTPA on global cognitive scores. However, in a multifactorial test on processing speed and memory, women had a positive association with processing speed and memory.ConclusionLeisure time PA had a positive association with global cognition function only for those who did not develop dementia. In women who were developing dementia, LTPA had a positive association with processing speed and memory, while in men, there were no such associations.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
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