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Hot topic - Walking linked with better mental ability

24 September 2004 - written by Bupa's Health Information Team

Walking regularly may be linked with better mental ability and a lower risk of developing dementia in older men and women, according to two new studies in the 22 September 2004 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).1,2

What do we know already about exercise and mental ability?

There is already evidence that physical activity can help to maintain cognitive function in older people.

Cognitive function is the medical term used to describe brain activities such as thinking, learning, remembering and judging things. It is natural for cognitive function to decline slightly with increasing age.

So far, researchers have found that people who do regular physical activity:

  • have better cognitive function
  • are less likely to develop dementia1

However, these previous studies have not looked specifically at the benefits of walking.

What is dementia?

Some people develop a more serious decline in cognitive function called dementia. There may be changes in personality, decline in social function and a decline in ability to carry out normal daily activities. Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.3 For more information please see our factsheet on Alzheimer's disease at http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/alzheimers_disease.html

How many people get dementia?

Dementia is rare in people under 60. It affects about one in twenty people over 65 and about one in five people aged over 80.4

What did these studies show?

These new studies showed that walking was linked with better mental ability in men and women over 70.1,2

What did the study show about walking and mental ability in men?

The study showed that men who walked less than a quarter of a mile each day (less than 400 metres) were 1.8 times as likely to develop dementia than men who walked more than two miles per day (more than 3.2km).2

Did the study look at the walking speed?

Yes. Men who walked faster (three metres in three seconds or less) were less likely to develop dementia than those who walked slowly (three metres in six seconds or more).2

What did the study show about physical activity and mental ability in women?

Researchers found that the women who were the most physically active over the long term achieved higher scores in mental ability tests.1

The study also showed that women who were the most active were 20% less likely to develop mental impairment than the women who were the least active.1

What did the study show about walking and physical activity in women?

The study showed that women who walked for at least one and half hours per week at an easy pace (one mile in 21-30 minutes) scored better in mental ability tests than women who walked for less than 38 minutes per week.1

How was the men's study carried out?

More than 2250 men aged between 71 and 93 years took part in the study.

In 1991-1993, researchers asked the men how far they walked each day. Researchers timed how long it took the men to walk 10ft (3m). Tests were also carried out to measure cognitive function.

Follow-up tests on cognitive function were carried out again between 1994 and 1996 and between 1997 and 1999 to see whether any of the men had developed dementia.2

How was the women's study carried out?

More than 16,000 women aged over 70 years took part in the study.

The women completed questionnaires about their physical activity every two years from 1986. The women were split into five groups according to their fitness levels.

The women's cognitive function was measured using several tests. These scored their ability to carry out certain tasks such as remembering strings of numbers, naming lists of items or recalling words. These were carried out two years after the last physical activity questionnaire was completed.1

Why does walking reduce the risk of dementia?

  • The relationship between walking and dementia is not fully understood.2 Physical activity keeps our bodies and brains active and it is possible that this lowers the risk of developing dementia.
  • High blood pressure and poor circulation of blood increase the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Both of these events raise the risk of developing dementia.3
  • Keeping fit keeps our hearts healthy, lowers blood pressure and improves blood circulation in the body.

How can I reduce the risk of dementia?

Although it is not possible to guarantee that you will not develop dementia, there are a number of lifestyle choices that might help to reduce the risk of developing dementia:

  • Taking part in regular physical activity, such as walking - staying active is thought to reduce the risk of dementia.1,2 Physical activity helps keep blood pressure at normal levels and improves blood circulation, decreasing the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.
    For more on the benefits of exercise and getting fit, please visit our exercise section: http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/asp/healthy_living/lifestyle/exercise/
  • Not smoking - harmful substances in cigarette smoke may damage blood vessels and brain cells and may increase the risk of dementia. Giving up smoking reduces damage to blood vessels and brain cells and also reduces the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and strokes.3
    For more on the effects of smoking and help with giving up smoking, please visit our smoking section: http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/asp/healthy_living/lifestyle/smoking/
  • Doing sociable and stimulating activities - keeping our brains active through leisure activities is fun and may help lower the risk of developing dementia. Hobbies that use memory, reasoning and problem solving keep our brains in better condition.5
  • Healthy eating - eating fruits and vegetables has been found to lower blood pressure and prevent heart disease. Fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants, which help protect damage to cells and blood vessels. All of these effects may help to lower the risk of developing dementia.

For more information about reducing the risk of dementia please see our article at http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/healthy_living/senior/alzheimers/prevention.html

Further information

Bupa resources:

External resources:

References

  1. Weuve J, Kang JH, Manson JE et al. Physical activity, including walking, and cognitive function in older women. JAMA 2004; 292:1454-1461.
  2. Abbott RD, White LR, Ross W et al. Walking and dementia in physically capable older men. JAMA 2004; 292:1447-1453.
  3. Alzheimer's Society Information Sheet October 2001. Facts about dementia: Am I at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Facts_about_dementia/PDF/i_amIAtRisk.pdf
  4. Oxford Handbook of General Practice, 2002, p.880 Dementia
  5. Verghese J, Lipton RB, Katz MJ et al. Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly. NEJM 2003; 348:2508-2516.

 

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