The fitter you are, the lower your risk for developing Alzheimer's disease: study

A recent study suggests the fitter people are, the lower their risk is for developing Alzheimer's and related disorders (ADRD). The study of more than half a million veterans in the Veterans Health Administration database found that as fitness improved, the risk for ADRD decreased over time. Findings from the preliminary study were released by the American Academy of Neurology in a news release and abstract in advance of their April annual conference. The study was conducted to examine the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by using a standardized exercise treadmill test and comparing that to the incidence of Alzheimer's disease and ADRD Data on 649,605 veterans aged 30 to 95 years from the database were used. They had mean age of 61 years, 5.7% were women and 16.6% were African American. The participants had all completed the exercise treadmill tests between 2000 and 2017, and did not have ADRD when the treadmill tests were conducted. There was an average of 8.8 years of follow-up. Read: Spironolactone not associated with a significant increase in cancer risk Metabolic equivalents (METs—a measure of the oxygen cost of energy expenditure measured at rest) were determined for each person. Subjects were placed into one of five age-specific fitness categories: lowest-fit (132,634 subjects with an average METs of 3.8); low-fit (129,493 with METs of 5.8); moderate-fit (120,988; METs of 7.5); fit (137,122, METs of 9.2) and highest-fit (129,368 subjects and average METs of 11.7). The values were based on peak METs achieved during the first treadmill test. It was reported that the group “with the lowest level of fitness developed ADRD at a rate of 9.5 cases per 1,000 person-years, compared to 6.4 cases per 1,000 person-years for the most fit group.” Read: Sudden death in athletes reduced three-fold with bystander training The rate of incident ADRD noticeably decreased as the level of fitness increased. The rates were 8.5 cases per 1,000 for the second least fit group, 7.4 for the middle group, 7.2 for the second most fit group and 6.4 for the highest fit group. The differences were statistically significant. Ever after adjusting for other factors which could affect the risk for Alzheimer or ADRD, the researchers concluded, “Our findings suggest that the association between CRF and ADRD risk is inverse, independent, and graded.” AAN says “we encourage you to use the American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting hashtag, #AANAM." Read: QUIZ: Test your knowledge of chemotherapy treatments and side effects

The fitter you are, the lower your risk for developing Alzheimer's disease: study

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