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Senior women were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia if they did more daily walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, according to a new study led by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.

In the Jan. 25, 2023 online edition of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the team reported that, among women aged 65 or older, each additional 31 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with a 21 percent lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Risk was also 33 percent lower with each additional 1,865 daily steps.

“Given that the onset of dementia begins 20 years or more before symptoms show, the early intervention for delaying or preventing cognitive decline and dementia among older adults is essential,” said senior author Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D., M.P.H., Distinguished Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego.

While there are several types, dementias are a debilitating neurological condition that can cause loss of memory, the ability to think, problem solve or reason. Mild cognitive impairment is an early stage of memory loss or thinking problems that is not as severe as dementias.

https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12908

Only 7 days of testing. During that time some of the people without cognitive decline would remember to do lots of exercise to keep the doctor happy, but those beginning to go might not, or to a lesser extent. It's far too short a period for everyone to revert to their 'natural' activity levels.

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That, and "The study findings also showed that higher amounts of sitting and prolonged sitting were not associated with higher risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia." You're right, they needed to study the subjects for at least six months.

A healthy circulatory system is important to maintaining a healthy brain.

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Shoot, only got 1863 extra steps today, guess I’m getting mild cognitive impairment

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