Physical Activity Associated with Reduced Risk of Cognitive Decline

by | Aug 7, 2024 | 2024, Blood Pressure, Brain Health, Cognitive Health, Recent Articles

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. Researchers found that individuals with high vigorous physical activity once a week had a significantly lower risk of mild cognitive impairment [HR = 0.80, P < 0.05].

fitness and exerciseHypertension is associated with a high risk of Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and mild cognitive impairment1,2. The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension (SPRINT MIND) study has demonstrated that control of blood pressure blood pressure is effective in preventing cases of cognitive impairment3. Other studies have shown that vigorous physical activity can slow cognitive decline4-6. In the current study, researchers assessed the effect of vigorous physical activity on individuals with hypertension and the risk of cognitive impairment7.

The SPRINT study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in the US on individuals with hypertension and a high risk of cardiovascular disease. The goal of the SPRINT study was to compare standard versus intense treatment of hypertension on the risk of coronary syndromes, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, or death along with renal and cognitive effects in individuals not pre-existing with stroke or diabetes over 50 years of age. Individuals in the SPRINT study underwent cognitive tests at baseline, two years, four years and at the close of a study. Socio-demographic and lifestyle data was collected from these participants. Researchers in this analysis utilized data from the SPRINT MIND study to assess the impact on the incidence of physical activity on dementia and mild cognitive impairment. The SPRINT study utilized data from 9361 non-diabetic U.S. adults who did not experience stroke. The current study is a post hoc analysis. For this analysis, participants with physical limitations, missing cognitive assessments, and missing physical activity data were excluded. Therefore, 7670 participants were included in this analysis. Hazard ratios were calculated to assess possible risk of cognitive decline and dementia, while researchers conducted a series of sensitivity analysis to determine whether the results were valid.

Among the 7670 participants, 13.5% were women and 59.3% reported vigorous physical activity at least once a week. The average age of participants was 70 years old with 59.3% Caucasian and 28.1% non-Hispanic black. The maximum follow-up time was 7.4 years during which, 759 incidents of both mild cognitive impairment and probable dementia, 570 incidents of mild cognitive impairment, and 273 incidents of probable dementia occurred. Statistical analysis showed that individual with high vigorous physical activity at least once a week had a lower incidence of mild cognitive impairment, probable dementia, and both combined. Using regression models adjusting for social demographic, smoking status, alcohol use, average systolic blood pressure, BMI, exercise, the use of hypertensive medicines at baseline, researchers found that individuals with high vigorous physical activity once a week had a significantly lower risk of mild cognitive impairment [HR = 0.80, P < 0.05] and the combination of probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment [HR= 0.82, P < 0.05] compared to individuals with low vigorous physical activity. Researchers also found that Black participants had a significantly lower risk of cognitive impairment and the combination of cognitive impairment [HR = 0.65, P < 0.05] and probable dementia [HR = 0.63, P < 0.05] Compared to non-Black participants. They also found that individuals who were under the age of 75 had a significantly lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and the combination of mild cognitive impairment and probable dementia when they engaged in vigorous physical activity (HR = 0.76 and HR = 0.77, P < 0.05, respectively). Additional adjustments and modeling did not significantly change results and sensitivity testing demonstrate the validity of the findings.

Overall, post hoc analysis of the SPRINT MIND study showed that individuals engaging in vigorous physical activity once a week had a significantly lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and probable dementia regardless of treatment for systolic blood pressure. Additional studies will be needed to verify these findings.

Source: Kazibwe, Richard, Christopher L. Schaich, Ahmad Imtiaz Muhammad, Isabella Epiu, Juliana H. Namutebi, Parag A. Chevli, Joseph Kazibwe et al. “Effect of vigorous‐intensity physical activity on incident cognitive impairment in high‐risk hypertension.” Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024).

© 2024 The Author(s). Alzheimer’s & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer’s Association.

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Posted August 7, 2024.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

References:

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