As we age and our bodies slow down, it can be tempting to spend more time on the couch in front of the TV, watching soap operas, sports, and other programs.
After all, we work hard and have been doing so for decades: don’t we deserve a little rest and relaxation?
Before you reward yourself with a more relaxing life, consider the potential consequences of inaction. About this 10% According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, inactivity can be attributed to premature deaths in the United States.
The CDC says just 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day could prevent about 110,000 deaths each year. Additionally, regular activity can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and reduce the risk of being diagnosed with a variety of diseases.
Now, a Boston University Study suggests what may be the best benefit of not becoming a couch potato in midlife: Higher levels of physical activity during midlife (ages 45 to 64) are associated with a 40% lower risk of dementia over a 26-year period compared with those who reported the lowest levels of physical activity.
If you’ve passed middle age and are in your golden years, there’s also some good news: Researchers say higher levels of physical activity later in life (ages 65 to 88) are associated with a 36% to 45% lower risk of dementia over 15 years.
However, researchers did not find any association between higher levels of physical activity in early adulthood (ages 26 to 44) and a lower risk of dementia.
The researchers also found that during midlife, higher physical activity was associated with lower dementia risk only in people without the apolipoprotein E-4 (APOE4) gene. (Having this gene increases a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.)
On the other hand, people who engaged in physical activity late in life had a lower risk of dementia even if they had the APOE4 gene.
Why can physical activity reduce your risk of dementia later in life? Experts have suggested that exercise may promote blood flow to the brain and reduce inflammation. It may also increase neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to change and adapt.
The Boston University study was based on analysis of data from more than 4,300 people. They were free from dementia at the beginning of the study period and self-reported their level of physical activity over the course of their lives.
The researchers emphasized that self-reporting of activity levels may be a limitation in the study. In addition, higher mortality rates among people who were less active or who were simply older may have affected the results.
For more information about keeping your brain healthy, see, “This key to a happy life may also reduce your risk of dementia.”