Staying Active and Healthy in Midlife May Delay Cognitive Decline

Researchers from UT Health San Antonio have discovered a significant link between physical activity and healthy blood sugar levels in midlife and a slower decline in thinking abilities later in life.

The study, which was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging, analyzed data from 402 participants from San Antonio, with 52% being Hispanic and the rest non-Hispanic white. The participants’ mean age was 57.9, and 58.5% were women.

The researchers found that physical activity was particularly associated with slower cognitive decline among Hispanic participants, while lower fasting blood glucose levels were linked to slower cognitive decline among non-Hispanic white participants.

‘By improving cardiovascular health through modifiable lifestyle changes, there is a potential to meaningfully alleviate the public health burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, particularly in high-risk populations,’ said Claudia Satizabal, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio.

The study also notes that cardiovascular health, measured using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) framework, has emerged as an important influence on how the brain ages. LS7 includes three behavioral factors (healthy diet, non-smoking, and physical activity) and four health factors (blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose).

Previous research has found that stronger adherence to LS7 is associated with better cognitive performance, healthier brains, and a lower risk of dementia. However, these relationships do not appear to be identical across different populations.

The researchers emphasize the importance of understanding how dementia risk develops over time and identifying prevention strategies that may work effectively for everyone.

Participants from the study are now being invited to join the San Antonio Heart and Mind Study (SAHMS) at the Glenn Biggs Institute, which aims to generate additional discoveries by collecting state-of-the-art brain imaging and other data.

Hispanic Adults Face a Disproportionate Burden of Alzheimer’s Disease

About 14% of Hispanic adults aged 65 or older have Alzheimer’s, compared with 10% of non-Hispanic white older adults. Mexican Americans, who make up the largest Hispanic population in the United States, also have particularly high rates of diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia, conditions that can increase dementia risk.

Despite these disparities, Hispanic populations remain underrepresented in Alzheimer’s research. The researchers note that this lack of representation makes it more difficult to understand how dementia risk develops over time and to identify prevention strategies that may work effectively for everyone.

The study’s findings suggest that engaging in any level of physical activity and potentially maintaining optimal fasting blood glucose levels in midlife are associated with a significantly slower rate of cognitive decline in late life. However, the results differed by ethnicity, and further research is needed in larger samples to replicate the differences.