To prevent cognitive decline late in life, stay physically active during midlife.

That's the conclusion of several studies including research recently published by scientists at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden finding that middle-aged women with high cardiovascular fitness were 90 percent less likely to develop dementia over the next 44 years than women with lower levels of fitness.

Nathaniel Chin, MD, assistant professor (CHS), Geriatrics and Gerontology, commented on the research.

"This study reaffirms this belief that physical activity has the ability to modify a person’s cognitive health and potentially prevent or delay the onset of dementia," he said.

Resources:

• "Being Fit in Middle Age May Help Protect Against Dementia," Everyday Health, April 3, 2018
• Hörder H et al. 2018. Midlife cardiovascular fitness and dementia: A 44-year longitudinal population study in women. Neurology. [Epub ahead of print]

Photo caption (top): Attendees of a 2017 fall public lecture event by the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center learn about the role of exercise in healthy aging (file photo). Photo credit: Clint Thayer/Department of Medicine