Exercising alone on the weekend is just as effective in preventing dementia as regular training, scientists say
Research shows that exercising alone on the weekend is just as effective in preventing dementia as regular exercise.
Scientists have found that ‘weekend warriors’ are as likely to reduce their risk of ‘mild dementia’ as those who stick to a fitness regime all week.
The findings come a month after another study found that one or two sessions of physical activity on the weekend reduces the risk of developing more than 200 diseases.
It reinforces a growing body of evidence that it’s not when you exercise, but the fact that you do, that health improves.
The team, made up of researchers from Colombia, Chile and Glasgow, examined two sets of survey data with responses from more than 10,000 people.
For the first survey, participants were asked whether they exercised or exercised, and if so, how often per week and for how long.
Four groups were derived from the answers: the non-athletes, the ‘weekend warriors’ who exercised or trained once or twice a week, the regularly active people who did this three or more times a week, and a combined group consisting of weekend warriors. and the regularly active.
Scientists have found that ‘weekend warriors’ are as likely to reduce their risk of ‘mild dementia’ as those who maintain a fitness regime all week (file image)
Analysis showed that the risk of mild dementia fell by an average of 15 percent among the ‘weekend warriors’ who trained once or twice a week and by 10 percent among the ‘regularly active’ people who trained more often (file image)
The second survey then used a mental status exam to assess their cognitive function.
Analysis showed that the risk of mild dementia fell by an average of 15 percent among the ‘weekend warriors’ who trained once or twice a week, and by 10 percent among the ‘regularly active’ people who trained more often.
Writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the researchers said: ‘The weekend warrior’s physical activity pattern may be a more convenient option for busy people around the world.
‘This study is important because it suggests that even busy people can achieve cognitive health benefits by participating in one or two sessions of sport and exercise per week.’
After taking into account factors that could influence the results, such as age, smoking, sleep duration, diet and alcohol intake, the researchers suggested that both exercise patterns had similar effects.
“We found that the weekend warrior physical activity pattern and the regularly active physical activity pattern were associated with similar reductions in the risk of mild dementia after adjusting for confounders,” she added.
‘We found that about 10 percent of cases of (mild dementia) would be eliminated if all middle-aged adults exercised or exercised once or twice a week or more.
‘To our knowledge, this is the first prospective cohort study to demonstrate that the weekend warrior’s physical activity pattern is associated with a reduced risk of mild dementia.’
A second study in the same journal also found that exercise, regardless of intensity, is linked to a 30 percent lower risk of death from any cause for four years after a dementia diagnosis.
These researchers said affected people should be encouraged to maintain or start an exercise routine regardless of intensity — especially since average life expectancy after a diagnosis of dementia may only be about four to five years.