Impact of physical activity on the development of dementia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.42.61225Keywords
Dementia, Physical activity, Occupational physical activity, Alzheimer Disease, Neurocognitive Disorder, Cardiovascular risk factors, Neurodegeneration, Chronic traumatic encephalopathyAbstract
Issues related to disease prevention are being increasingly addressed, particularly through the prevention of diseases by identification and verification of risk factors. One condition that
is associated with an increasing incidence among the aging population is dementia, which places a burden on health care systems and the caregivers. The purpose of this study
is to explore the relationship between physical activity and the development of dementia based on the available literature. Understanding how exercise and sports can help prevent dementia may prove crucial in its prevention. Research indicates that physical activity has
an impact on preventing and delaying the development of dementia by reducing cardiovascular risk factors and having a neuroprotective effect. However, the effectiveness
of physical activity, the type of sport and environmental conditions plays a major role in this aspect. Notably, evidence suggests that contact sports and strenuous physical work can promote the development of dementia.
References
1. Hildreth KL, Church S. Evaluation and management of the elderly patient presenting with cognitive complaints. Med Clin North Am. 2015 Mar;99(2):311-35.
doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2014.11.006. Epub 2014 Dec 23. PMID: 25700586; PMCID: PMC4399854.
2. Prince, Martin, et al. World Alzheimer Report 2015. The Global Impact of Dementia:
An analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends. Diss. Alzheimer's Disease International, 2015
3. Arvanitakis Z, Shah RC, Bennett DA. Diagnosis and Management of Dementia: Review. JAMA. 2019 Oct 22;322(16):1589-1599. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.4782. PMID: 31638686; PMCID: PMC7462122.
4. Duong S, Patel T, Chang F. Dementia: What pharmacists need to know. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2017 Feb 7;150(2):118-129. doi: 10.1177/1715163517690745. PMID: 28405256; PMCID: PMC5384525.
5. Hebert LE, Bienias JL, Aggarwal NT, Wilson RS, Bennett DA, Shah RC, Evans DA. Change in risk of Alzheimer disease over time. Neurology. 2010 Aug 31;75(9):786-91.
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181f0754f. PMID: 20805524; PMCID: PMC2938969.
6. Baumgart M, Snyder HM, Carrillo MC, Fazio S, Kim H, Johns H. Summary of the evidence on modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia: A population-based perspective. Alzheimers Dement. 2015 Jun;11(6):718-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.05.016. Epub 2015 Jun 1. PMID: 26045020.
7. Piggin J. What Is Physical Activity? A Holistic Definition for Teachers, Researchers and Policy Makers. Front Sports Act Living. 2020 June 18;2:72. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2020.00072. PMID: 33345063; PMCID: PMC7739796.
8. Dhuli K, Naureen Z, Medori MC, Fioretti F, Caruso P, Perrone MA, Nodari S, Manganotti P, Xhufi S, Bushati M, Bozo D, Connelly ST, Herbst KL, Bertelli M. Physical activity for health. J Prev Med Hyg. 2022 Oct 17;63(2 Suppl 3):E150-E159. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2756. PMID: 36479484; PMCID: PMC9710390.
9. Yoo JE, Han K, Kim B, Park SH, Kim SM, Park HS, Nam GE. Changes in Physical Activity and the Risk of Dementia in Patients With New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes:
A Nationwide Cohort Study. Diabetes Care. 2022 May 1;45(5):1091-1098.
doi: 10.2337/dc21-1597. PMID: 35192690.
10. Rabinowitz Y, Ravona-Springer R, Heymann A, Moshier E, Berman Y, Schwartz J, Sano M, Aisenberg D, Schnaider-Beeri M. Physical Activity Is Associated with Slower Cognitive Decline in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. J Prev Alzheimer's Dis. 2023;10(3):497-502. doi: 10.14283/jpad.2023.26. PMID: 37357290.
11. Feter N, Dumith SC, Smith EC, da Cunha LL, Cassuriaga J, Leite JS, Alt R, Coombes JS, Rombaldi AJ. Physical activity attenuates the risk for dementia associated with aging in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Findings from a population-based cohort study.
J Psychiatr Res. 2021 Sep;141:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.06.034. Epub 2021 Jun 18. PMID: 34171758.
12. Guure CB, Ibrahim NA, Adam MB, Said SM. Impact of Physical Activity on Cognitive Decline, Dementia, and Its Subtypes: Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:9016924. doi: 10.1155/2017/9016924. Epub 2017 Feb 7. PMID: 28271072; PMCID: PMC5320071.
13. Wang S, Liu HY, Cheng YC, Su CH. Exercise Dosage in Reducing the Risk of Dementia Development: Mode, Duration, and Intensity-A Narrative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 17;18(24):13331. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182413331. PMID: 34948942; PMCID: PMC8703896.
14. Firth J, Stubbs B, Vancampfort D, Schuch F, Lagopoulos J, Rosenbaum S, Ward PB. Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroimage. 2018 Feb 1;166:230-238. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.007. Epub 2017 Nov 4. PMID: 29113943.
15 Gorelick PB, Scuteri A, Black SE, Decarli C, Greenberg SM, Iadecola C, et al. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2011;42(9):2672–713.
16. Chang Wong E, Chang Chui H. Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2022 June 1;28(3):750-780.
doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000001124. PMID: 35678401; PMCID: PMC9833847.
17. Arnold SE, Arvanitakis Z, Macauley-Rambach SL, Koenig AM, Wang HY, Ahima RS, Craft S, Gandy S, Buettner C, Stoeckel LE, Holtzman DM, Nathan DM. Brain insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer disease: concepts and conundrums. Nat Rev Neurol. 2018 Mar;14(3):168-181. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2017.185. Epub 2018 Jan 29.
PMID: 29377010; PMCID: PMC6098968.
18. Wu W, Brickman AM, Luchsinger J, Ferrazzano P, Pichiule P, Yoshita M, Brown T, DeCarli C, Barnes CA, Mayeux R, Vannucci SJ, Small SA. The brain in the age of old: the hippocampal formation is targeted differentially by diseases of late life. Ann Neurol. 2008 Dec;64(6):698-706. doi: 10.1002/ana.21557. PMID: 19107993; PMCID: PMC2867102.
19. Zabetian-Targhi F, Srikanth VK, Beare R, Breslin M, Moran C, Wang W, Wu F, Smith KJ, Callisaya ML. The Association Between Physical Activity Intensity, Cognition, and Brain Structure in People With Type 2 Diabetes. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2021 Oct 13;76(11):2047-2053. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glab067. PMID: 33687062.
20. Lopes S, Mesquita-Bastos J, Alves AJ, Ribeiro F. Exercise as a tool for hypertension and resistant hypertension management: current insights. Integr Blood Press Control. 2018 Sep 20;11:65-71. doi: 10.2147/IBPC.S136028. PMID: 30288097; PMCID: PMC6159802.
21. Saco-Ledo G, Valenzuela PL, Ruiz-Hurtado G, Ruilope LM, Lucia A. Exercise Reduces Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Patients With Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Dec 15;9(24):e018487. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.018487. Epub 2020 Dec 5. PMID: 33280503; PMCID: PMC7955398
22. Gambardella J, Morelli MB, Wang XJ, Santulli G. Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical activity in hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2020 Feb;22(2):291-295. doi: 10.1111/jch.13804. Epub 2020 Jan 19.
PMID: 31955526; PMCID: PMC7169989.
23. Ahlskog JE, Geda YE, Graff-Radford NR, Petersen RC. Physical exercise as a preventive or disease-modifying treatment of dementia and brain aging. Mayo Clin Proc. 2011 Sep;86(9):876-84. doi: 10.4065/mcp.2011.0252. PMID: 21878600; PMCID: PMC3258000.
24. Muscella A, Stefàno E, Marsigliante S. The effects of exercise training on lipid metabolism and coronary heart disease. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Jul 1;319(1):H76-H88. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00708.2019. Epub 2020 May 22. PMID: 32442027.
25. Feringa FM, van der Kant R. Cholesterol and Alzheimer's Disease; From Risk Genes to Pathological Effects. Front Aging Neurosci. 2021 Jun 24;13:690372.
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.690372. PMID: 34248607; PMCID: PMC8264368.
26.Yun H, Su W, Zhao H, Li H, Wang Z, Cui X, Xi C, Gao R, Sun Y, Liu C. Effects of different exercise modalities on lipid profile in the elderly population: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 July 21;102(29):e33854. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033854. PMID: 37478257; PMCID: PMC10662825.
27. Flores-Cordero JA, Pérez-Pérez A, Jiménez-Cortegana C, Alba G, Flores-Barragán
A, Sánchez-Margalet V. Obesity as a Risk Factor for Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease:
The Role of Leptin. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 6;23(9):5202. doi: 10.3390/ijms23095202. PMID: 35563589; PMCID: PMC9099768.
28. Wang Y, Weng S, Xia C, Xu T, Song X, Wang F. Effect of physical exercise on metabolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024 Dec 19;11:1502620. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1502620. PMID: 39749313; PMCID: PMC11693651
29. Cotman CW, Berchtold NC. Exercise: a behavioral intervention to enhance brain health and plasticity. Trends Neurosci. 2002 Jun;25(6):295-301. doi: 10.1016/s0166-2236(02)02143-4. PMID: 12086747.
30. Guo L, Yang X, Zhang Y, Xu X, Li Y. Effect of exercise on cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease models: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Jan 10;14:1077732. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1077732. PMID: 36704501; PMCID: PMC9872519.
31. Scarmeas N, Luchsinger JA, Brickman AM i in. Aktywność fizyczna i przebieg choroby Alzheimera. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;19(5):471-481
32. Adlard PA, Perreau VM, Pop V, Cotman CW. Voluntary exercise decreases amyloid load in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci. 2005 Apr 27;25(17):4217-21.
doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0496-05.2005. PMID: 15858047; PMCID: PMC6725122.
33. Mabandla MV, Russell VA. Voluntary exercise reduces the neurotoxic effects of
6-hydroxydopamine in maternally separated rats. Behav Brain Res. 2010 Jul 29;211(1):16-22. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.02.045. Epub 2010 Mar 3. PMID: 20206210; PMCID: PMC2862124.
34. Mckee AC, Daneshvar DH. The neuropathology of traumatic brain injury. Handb Clin Neurol. 2015;127:45-66. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-52892-6.00004-0. PMID: 25702209; PMCID: PMC4694720.
35. McKee AC, Mez J, Abdolmohammadi B, Butler M, Huber BR, Uretsky M, Babcock K, Cherry JD, Alvarez VE, Martin B, Tripodis Y, Palmisano JN, Cormier KA, Kubilus CA, Nicks R, Kirsch D, Mahar I, McHale L, Nowinski C, Cantu RC, Stern RA, Daneshvar D, Goldstein LE, Katz DI, Kowall NW, Dwyer B, Stein TD, Alosco ML. Neuropathologic and Clinical Findings in Young Contact Sport Athletes Exposed to Repetitive Head Impacts. JAMA Neurol. 2023 Oct 1;80(10):1037-1050. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2907.
PMID: 37639244; PMCID: PMC10463175.
36. Mez J, Daneshvar DH, Kiernan PT, Abdolmohammadi B, Alvarez VE, Huber BR, Alosco ML, Solomon TM, Nowinski CJ, McHale L, Cormier KA, Kubilus CA, Martin BM, Murphy L, Baugh CM, Montenigro PH, Chaisson CE, Tripodis Y, Kowall NW, Weuve J, McClean MD, Cantu RC, Goldstein LE, Katz DI, Stern RA, Stein TD, McKee AC. Clinicopathological Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Players of American Football. JAMA. 2017 Jul 25;318(4):360-370. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.8334. PMID: 28742910; PMCID: PMC5807097.
37. Alosco ML, Mez J, Kowall NW, Stein TD, Goldstein LE, Cantu RC, Katz DI, Solomon TM, Kiernan PT, Murphy L, Abdolmohammadi B, Daneshvar D, Montenigro PH, Nowinski CJ, Stern RA, McKee AC. Cognitive Reserve as a Modifier of Clinical Expression in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Preliminary Examination. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2017 Winter;29(1):6-12. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.16030043. Epub 2016 Aug 19.
PMID: 27539377; PMCID: PMC5288278.
38. Batty GD, Frank P, Kujala UM, Sarna SJ, Valencia-Hernández CA, Kaprio J. Dementia in former amateur and professional contact sports participants: population-based cohort study, systematic review, and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Jun 22;61:102056.
doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102056. PMID: 37425375; PMCID: PMC10329127.
39. Espahbodi S, Hogervorst E, Macnab TP, Thanoon A, Fernandes GS, Millar B, Duncan A, Goodwin M, Batt M, Fuller CW, Fuller G, Ferguson E, Bast T, Doherty M, Zhang W. Heading Frequency and Risk of Cognitive Impairment in Retired Male Professional Soccer Players. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 July 3;6(7):e2323822.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23822. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Aug 1;6(8):e2330818. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.30818. PMID: 37459095; PMCID: PMC10352859.
40. Adams JW, Alvarez VE, Mez J, Huber BR, Tripodis Y, Xia W, Meng G, Kubilus CA, Cormier K, Kiernan PT, Daneshvar DH, Chua AS, Svirsky S, Nicks R, Abdolmohammadi B, Evers L, Solomon TM, Cherry JD, Aytan N, Mahar I, Devine S, Auerbach S, Alosco ML, Nowinski CJ, Kowall NW, Goldstein LE, Dwyer B, Katz DI, Cantu RC, Stern RA, Au R, McKee AC, Stein TD. Lewy Body Pathology and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Associated With Contact Sports. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2018 Sep 1;77(9):757-768.
doi: 10.1093/jnen/nly065. PMID: 30053297; PMCID: PMC6097837.
41. Mackay DF, Russell ER, Stewart K, MacLean JA, Pell JP, Stewart W. Neurodegenerative Disease Mortality among Former Professional Soccer Players. N Engl J Med. 2019 Nov 7;381(19):1801-1808. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1908483. Epub 2019 Oct 21. PMID: 31633894; PMCID: PMC8747032.
42. Batty GD, Bell S, Kujala UM, Sarna SJ, Kaprio J. Dementia risk factors in former contact sports participants: prospective cohort study. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Jan 16:2024.01.15.24301327. doi: 10.1101/2024.01.15.24301327. PMID: 38293048; PMCID: PMC10827262.
43. Choi E, Kim SG, Zahodne LB, Albert SM. Older Workers with Physically Demanding Jobs and their Cognitive Functioning. Ageing Int. 2022;47(1):55-71. doi: 10.1007/s12126-020-09404-8. Epub 2021 Jan 8. PMID: 33437106; PMCID: PMC7791149.
44. Burzynska AZ, Ganster DC, Fanning J, Salerno EA, Gothe NP, Voss MW, McAuley E, Kramer AF. Occupational Physical Stress Is Negatively Associated With Hippocampal Volume and Memory in Older Adults. Front Hum Neurosci. 2020 Jul 15;14:266.
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00266. PMID: 32765239; PMCID: PMC7381137.
45. Zhang H, Shao MM, Lin XD, Cheng LJ, Ovlyakulov B, Chen BB, Chen KY.
A cross-sectional survey on occupational stress and associated dyslipidemia among medical staff in tertiary public hospitals in Wenzhou, China. Brain Behav. 2021 Mar;11(3):e02014.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.2014. Epub 2020 Dec 23. PMID: 33369267; PMCID: PMC7994692.
46. Zhao J, Li K, Liao X. Working status and risk of Alzheimer's disease: A Mendelian randomization study. Brain Behav. 2023 Jan;13(1):e2834. doi: 10.1002/brb3.2834. Epub 2022 Dec 7. PMID: 36479845; PMCID: PMC9847601.
47. Zotcheva E, Bratsberg B, Strand BH, Jugessur A, Engdahl BL, Bowen C, Selbæk G, Kohler HP, Harris JR, Weiss J, Tom SE, Krokstad S, Mekonnen T, Edwin TH, Stern Y, Håberg AK, Skirbekk V. Trajectories of occupational physical activity and risk of later-life mild cognitive impairment and dementia: the HUNT4 70+ study. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2023 Aug 29;34:100721. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100721. PMID: 37927437; PMCID: PMC10625024.
48. Nabe-Nielsen K, Holtermann A, Gyntelberg F, Garde AH, Islamoska S, Prescott E, Schnohr P, Hansen ÅM. The effect of occupational physical activity on dementia: Results from the Copenhagen Male Study. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2021 Feb;31(2):446-455.
doi: 10.1111/sms.13846. Epub 2020 Oct 26. PMID: 33038033.
49. Juul Rasmussen I, Rasmussen KL, Thomassen JQ, Nordestgaard BG, Schnohr P, Tybjærg-Hansen A, Frikke-Schmidt R. Physical activity in leisure time and at work and risk of dementia: A prospective cohort study of 117,616 individuals. Atherosclerosis. 2022 Nov;360:53-60. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.08.004. Epub 2022 Aug 17.
PMID: 36049961.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Kornelia Pudło, Karolina Ochyra, Martyna Bukała, Jowita Frydrych, Gabriela Prucnal, Karolina Ryba, Katarzyna Znamirowska, Klaudia Zacher, Anna Rakoczy, Patrycja Walkiewicz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 8
Number of citations: 0
