How to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease

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People in good physical shape probably have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease , than those who have worse physical training. Scientists from the American Academy of Neurology (American Academy of Neurology, USA) came to this conclusion.

More than 649,000 veterans of the armed forces took part in the study. Their average age at the start of the study was 61, and they did not have Alzheimer's disease at that time. The veterans were observed for an average of nine years.

Researchers determined their cardiorespiratory endurance – the body's ability to withstand long-term physical exertion. All test participants were divided into five groups – from the least adapted to physical activity to the most adapted. Fitness level was determined by how well they did on a treadmill test.

In the least physically fit group, Alzheimer's disease developed at a rate of 9.5 cases per 1,000 person-years, compared with 6.4 cases per 1,000 person-years in the most physically fit group (person-years include the number of people participating in research, and the amount of time spent on research). In other groups, the frequency of cases also decreased as the level of physical fitness increased.

When the scientists adjusted for other factors that could affect the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, they found that people in the most physically active group were more likely to the development of this disease was 33% lower than that of respondents with the least physical endurance.

Scientists note that the study was quite limited and further work is needed. “But the very idea that you can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by simply increasing your activity is very promising,” says one of the authors of the study, Edward Zamrini, MD, an employee of the Washington Medical Center in Virginia and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.