A study from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that vigorous exercise at least once a week can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in people with high blood pressure.
Weekly vigorous exercise may help lower the risk of dementia in people with high blood pressure, according to a Wake Forest University study, which also highlights the benefits of intensive blood pressure control.
People with high blood pressure are at higher risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia, but a new study suggests that vigorous exercise at least once a week may reduce that risk.
The study was conducted at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and results were released today (June 6). Alzheimer’s disease Dementia: The Alzheimer’s Association Journal.
The benefits of exercise for cognitive health
“We know that exercise has many benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving heart health, and potentially slowing cognitive decline,” said Richard Kazibwe, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “However, the amount and intensity of exercise needed to maintain cognitive function is unknown.”
Richard Kazibwe, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Photo courtesy of Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
SPRINT Research Insights
Results of the landmark Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), published in 2015, showed that intensive blood pressure management: Cardiovascular disease The risk of death was reduced.
SPRINT began in the fall of 2009 and included more than 9,300 hypertensive patients aged 50 years or older who were recruited from nearly 100 medical centers and clinical practices across the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a systolic blood pressure goal of either <120 mm Hg (intensive care) or <140 mm Hg (standard care). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) halted the blood pressure intervention earlier than originally planned to quickly disseminate important preliminary results and developed new guidelines for blood pressure management.
The effects of intense exercise on cognitive decline
In 2019, results from the ancillary SPRINT MIND trial led by Wake Forest University School of Medicine showed that intensively managing blood pressure in older adults significantly reduced their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to early dementia.
In a secondary analysis of the SPRINT MIND study, Kazibwe and team looked at the effect of self-reported vigorous physical activity (at least once a week) on risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Participant participation and exercise benefits
People who participated in vigorous physical activity at least once a week had lower rates of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Kazibwe said about 60 percent of study participants, including those aged 75 and older, reported engaging in vigorous exercise at least once a week.
“It is good news that physical activity is on the rise among older people. It also suggests that older people who recognise the importance of exercise are more likely to engage in more intense physical activity,” Kazibwe said.
However, the team found that the protective effect of vigorous exercise was more pronounced in people under 75 years of age.
Conclusions and future research directions
“This study provides evidence that vigorous exercise may preserve cognitive function in high-risk patients with hypertension, but further research including device-based physical activity measures and more diverse participant populations is needed,” Kazibwe said.
Reference: “Effect of high-intensity physical activity on the development of cognitive impairment in high-risk hypertension patients” June 6, 2024, Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
DOI: 10.1002/alz.13887
