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just someone exercise People who exercise on the weekends have the same risk of developing mild dementia as those who exercise more frequently, a new study has found.
Weekend warriors who exercise once or twice a week were the focus of the study, which was published online Tuesday. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
A team of academics from Latin America and Europe set out to investigate whether the frequency of exercise influences the risk of developing mild dementia.
Researchers found that not only is the weekend wellness pattern potentially effective in preventing the progression of symptoms, but it may also be easier to achieve for people with busy lifestyles. I discovered that.
Scientists looked at two sets of survey data from the Mexico City Prospective Study, a longitudinal study that tracked the health status of thousands of people in Mexico’s capital over many years. The first study was conducted from 1998 to 2004, and the second study of the same people began in 2015 and ended four years later.
A total of 10,033 people with an average age of 51 years participated in the survey and their responses were included in the study.
In the first study, participants were asked whether they exercised, how often, and for how long.
Based on their answers, the researchers divided the respondents into four groups. Weekend warriors who play sports or exercise once or twice a week. People who are regularly active and exercise at least three times a week. And then there’s the group, which is a combination of regulars and weekend warriors.
In the second survey, respondents’ cognitive functioning was assessed using the Mini-Mental Status Examination. The test is “probably the most widely used tool to screen for cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults,” according to the study.
Similar results for men and women
Researchers found that those who exercised on the weekends were 13% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than those who did not exercise at all, while those who exercised regularly and those who combined both were 13% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment. found that it was 12% less likely. The results were similar for men and women.
This finding led the researchers to conclude that 13% of cases of mild dementia could be avoided if all middle-aged people exercised at least once or twice a week.
Lead author Gary O’Donovan, an adjunct professor at Colombia’s University of the Andes School of Medicine, told CNN that about half of the weekend warriors reported exercising for at least 30 minutes per session, while the rest reported exercising for about an hour or more. Ta. More every time.
Compared to the group that did not exercise, weekend warriors were 13% less likely to develop mild dementia, and those who exercised regularly and those who combined exercise were 12% less likely to develop mild dementia. Mr O’Donovan said these were “average values” and “margins of error overlap”. In other words, “we see a similar risk reduction within the group,” he said.
“We found that weekend warrior physical activity patterns and regularly vigorous physical activity patterns were associated with similar reductions in the risk of mild dementia after adjusting for confounders,” researchers said. is writing.
These confounders include a variety of factors that can influence the relationship between cognition and physical activity, such as age, gender, education, and BMI.
The researchers continued: “To our knowledge, this study shows that weekend warrior physical activity patterns and regularly vigorous physical activity patterns are associated with similar reductions in the risk of mild dementia. This is the first prospective cohort study to show that
Commenting on the importance of the research, O’Donovan said: “Warriors’ physical activity patterns across the weekend are important because lack of time is a major barrier to participating in more sports and exercise.” According to a study of men and women around the world, adults Two-thirds of people want to do more, but don’t have the time.
“I’ve long been interested in debunking the one-size-fits-all misconception when it comes to exercise. I believe weekend warriors around the world should be told that what they’re doing is okay. I feel strongly.”
He further added: “The weekend warrior research is now starting to pile up. It’s clear that the health benefits are about the same as exercising more often.”
According to the study, the researchers believe their results “have implications for policy and practice, as the weekend warrior physical activity pattern may be a more convenient option for busy populations in Latin America and other regions.” “I think it could have important implications.”
Their conclusions suggest that weekend warrior training may be as effective as more regular exercise in lowering the risk of developing more than 200 diseases, a more widespread recent study. reflects research. These scientists published their research results in journals circulation In September, UK Biobank A project to reach a conclusion.
Chris Russell, senior lecturer at the Dementia Research Institute at the University of Worcester, UK, welcomed the study as encouraging, saying “further research[on dementia]needs to be carried out in low- and middle-income countries” such as Mexico. Ta. Russell was not involved in the study.
“There is evidence that physical activity can help prevent dementia,” he said, explaining that team sports and other fitness activities, as well as informal activities such as dancing and walking, can help.
In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, staying healthy often includes socializing with peers and others, which may help prevent cognitive decline, Russell said.
He said there was enough evidence that “physical activity can prevent dementia,” but added, “It’s by no means certain,” and noted that other risk factors such as diet and smoking also need to be considered. did.
According to the report, more than 55 million people worldwide currently live with dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year. world health organization.
