Physical activity and dementia risk in the elderly

Abstract

In this cohort, physical activity is associated with a lower risk of vascular dementia but not of Alzheimer disease. Further research is needed about the biologic mechanisms operating between physical activity and cognition.

Is physical activity a potential preventive factor for vascular dementia? A systematic review

“…Of the 24 studies (including 1,378 individuals with VaD) considered for final inclusion, 5 papers (374 with VaD, 10,108 without dementia) fulfilled all criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis: (Abbott, White, Ross, Masaki, Curb et al, 2004;Laurin, Verreault, Lindsay, MacPherson, & Rockwood, 2001;Podewils, Guallar, Kuller, Fried, Lopez et al, 2005;Ravaglia, Forti, Lucicesare, Pisacane, Rietti et al, 2008;Yoshitake, Kiyohara, Kato, Ohmura, Iwamoto et al, 1995). In addition, two studies provided results of the association between physical activity and development of VaD, but did not provide specific data related to the VaD group (Taaffe, Irie, Masaki, Abbott, Petrovitch et al, 2008;Yamada, Kasagi, Sasaki, Masunari, Mimori et al, 2003).…”

Physical Activity Prevents Progression for Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Dementia

“…22 Moreover, those studies, with 1 exception, 23 did not control for imaging data, namely WMC or medial temporal atrophy, and most of them did not control for cognitive status at inclusion. [23][24][25][26][27] Our study has some limitations, mostly related with sample selection, which does not represent the community. Participants were selected due to minor complaints and probably represent the first moment when nondisabled elderly with cerebral WMC seek medical attention.…”

Exercise as a pro-cognitive, pro-neurogenic and anti-inflammatory intervention in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease

“…Much of the evidence for a beneficial role of exercise in AD patients is associative in nature and based on self-reporting of physical activity levels by participants. Despite this shortcoming, it has been consistently reported that exercise is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and the level of reported physical activity correlates with the incidence of dementia across a number of studies (Andel et al, 2008;Buchman et al, 2012;Larson et al, 2006;Ravaglia et al, 2008). Randomised controlled trials, although few in number, also support exercise as a pro-cognitive intervention in individuals diagnosed with dementia (de Andrade et al, 2013;Kemoun et al, 2010;Van de Winckel et al, 2004;Venturelli et al, 2011;Vreugdenhil et al, 2012).…”