December 9, 2025, 9:32 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Many people exercise regularly to protect their heart and circulatory system. However, when it comes to the risk of dementia, it also seems to matter at what stage of life this occurs. An analysis links physical activity in early adulthood, midlife, and older age with the risk of later dementia, with clearly distinguishable patterns.
What was studied? An analysis within the Framingham Heart Study examined which phase of adult life physical activity is most strongly associated with a lower risk of dementia.1 More than 4,300 adults without dementia were observed, belonging to three age groups:
- early adulthood with an average age of 37,
- midlife at 54, and
- older age at 71.
Daily physical activity was self-reported once in each life phase, divided into five activity levels, and compared with the occurrence of dementia over many years.
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Moderate to Intense Exercise Has the Greatest Effect on Dementia Risk
Results: Participants with the highest activity levels in midlife or older age had a 41 percent and 45 percent lower risk of dementia, respectively, compared to the least active. This effect was also observed in Alzheimer’s, the most common form.
In midlife, it was mainly moderate to intense forms of exercise (such as brisk walking, gardening, or sports) that showed a statistical link to a lower risk.
In older age, the intensity did not play a decisive role. The benefits of physical activity were particularly evident in people without the Alzheimer’s risk gene APOE4 in midlife. In older age, even carriers of this gene benefited.
For the group in early adulthood (mid-30s), no statistical link between physical activity and later dementia risk could be established. This could also be due to the relatively small number of cases in this group.
Significance: These results show how important exercise is in the second half of life to stay mentally healthy. Midlife and older age, in particular, seem to be sensitive windows for prevention. Those who remain active during these phases can significantly reduce their risk of dementia. Limitation: The study is based on self-reported physical activity, which can lead to inaccuracies. Additionally, the participants were almost exclusively of European descent, so the results may not be applicable to all population groups.
Want to delve deeper into the findings of the dementia study? Then you can find what you’re looking for in this FITBOOK article.
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