According to new research, adding more movement to your life in middle age could help you avoid the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by a substantial degree. Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, PhD, principal investigator of the study at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). This study reinforces an incredible correlation between exercise and the absence of beta-amyloid in the brain – a protein most notable for its presence in those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
The study participants, aged 45–65 years, were members of an ongoing longitudinal cohort, the ALFA cohort. They were divided into five categories according to the extent to which they met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for physical activity. These cohort groups included everyone from the completely inactive to those that were initially non-adherent but achieved guideline adherence later on.
Dr. Arenaza-Urquijo emphasized the importance of midlife as a critical period for Alzheimer’s disease pathologies, stating, “Midlife is a critical period during which Alzheimer’s disease pathologies begin to accumulate in the brain.” Among participants who increased their physical activity to meet the WHO recommendations, there were reductions in levels of beta-amyloid. This finding indicates a possible protective effect against developing the disease.
The study’s findings reveal that participants who reported no physical activity over a four-year follow-up period experienced greater loss of cortical thickness in brain regions linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Cortical thinning represents one of the most common indexed and examined markers of neurodegeneration. Dr. Arenaza-Urquijo noted that “participants who reported no physical activity… exhibited greater loss of cortical thickness.”
The study highlights the importance of understanding that Alzheimer’s-related changes may develop without symptoms for as long as 20 years before clinical symptoms begin. Dr. Arenaza-Urquijo explained, “Over the last decade, research has shown that Alzheimer’s-related changes can occur silently for up to two decades before any clinical symptoms appear. This represents a crucial window of opportunity for prevention and early intervention.”
The full study divided participants into groups according to their activity levels across time. Group 1 was made up of people who did not move at all over the course of the study. Group 2 consisted of the physically active individuals who were below WHO recommendations. Group 3 consistently met and exceeded these guidelines while Group 4 didn’t start meeting them until they were sexually inactive at first. Finally, Group 5 was initially classified as non-adherent, but over time achieved the recommended levels of activity.
To make the most of movement, Dr. Daneshvar urges people to move more each week. To promote adherence to better exercise regimens, he recommends beginning with what people can realistically do and what they enjoy. He noted, “Even small amounts of regular activity can make a difference, so the goal should be to move more throughout the week.”
The study’s findings suggest that adopting a more physically active lifestyle in midlife could offer protection from developing Alzheimer’s disease. This method can delay, or even stop, the accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain. Dr. Arenaza-Urquijo remarked, “Our findings suggest that adopting a more active lifestyle in midlife — especially for individuals who were previously inactive — may play a protective role by slowing or potentially preventing the buildup of this hallmark Alzheimer’s pathology.”
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