Interventions that could postpone the onset of AD even modestly would have a major public health impact, because the proportion of elderly in the population is increasing.

Miia Kivipelto of the Aging Research Center in Sweden and colleagues randomly selected 1,449 people aged 65 to 79 who had been surveyed about their leisure-time physical activity in 1972, 1977, 1982 and 1987 to participate in the study.

Leisure-Time Physical Activity

The investigators re-examined the participants in 1998 and found that individuals participating in leisure-time physical activity at least twice a week had a 60% lower risk of AD compared to those participating in physical activity less than twice a week.

Members of the active group were half as likely to suffer from dementia than those in the sedentary group.

In individuals who were genetically susceptible to AD, physical activity had a more pronounced effect against developing dementia or AD in later life, the researchers found.

Wide Implications for Preventive Healthcare

Interventions that could postpone the onset of AD even modestly would have a major public health impact, the authors note, because the proportion of elderly in the population is increasing.

"These findings may have wide implications for preventive healthcare," says Dr. Kivipelto. "If an individual adopts an active lifestyle in youth and at midlife, this may increase their probability of enjoying both physically and cognitively vital years later in life."