Just 5 Minutes of Daily Exercise Linked to 41% Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults
New research highlights the significant brain health benefits of even minimal physical activity for seniors, challenging traditional exercise guidelines.
- A study by Johns Hopkins University found that as little as five minutes of daily exercise can reduce the risk of dementia in older adults by 41%.
- The research involved nearly 90,000 participants aged 50 and above, using wrist accelerometers to measure physical activity levels objectively.
- The findings suggest that even small amounts of movement, such as 35 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, can provide significant cognitive benefits.
- Higher levels of physical activity further reduced dementia risk, with those exercising over 140 minutes weekly seeing a 69% lower risk.
- The study emphasizes that any amount of exercise, even for frail individuals, is better than none, offering an accessible prevention strategy for dementia.