How Your Workout Routine Can Cut Your Chances of Dementia in Half

A study published in Neurology suggests a regular exercise regimen in one's 40s can reduce the chances of developing dementia decades later, reports Runner's World. The researchers found women with high levels of physical activity cut their risk of developing dementia by 52 percent, with such activity more protective against vascular causes of dementia, whereas mental activity appears to help stave off Alzheimer's. The study monitored 800 Swedish women for 44 years, and 194 developed some form of dementia in the course of the study. Women with a high level of mental activities were 34 percent less likely to develop dementia. Mental activities included reading and writing, artistic work, singing, and manual activities such as needlework or gardening. Physical activities included habitual walking, consistent running, or engaging in competitive sports. Although the study's authors are not precisely sure how exercise helps promote cognitive health, they think it may be associated with its beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors and stroke, since improved blood flow can help protect against vascular dementia.