5 Minutes a Day Keeps Dementia at Bay: Groundbreaking Study Reveals Minimal Exercise's Massive Impact on Brain Health

A landmark Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study has revealed a revolutionary breakthrough for older brain health: only 35 minutes of moderate to intense exercise per week can reduce the risk of dementia by a whopping 41%. That's just 5 minutes a day, and it brings hope to older adults who can't sustain more aggressive regimens.

 

The study, which examined data from almost 90,000 UK adults, discovered that even frail older people gained from this low-dose exercise regimen. The more active they were, the greater the protective effects, with those who exercised 140+ minutes a week having a 69% reduced risk of dementia.

 

The research's lead author, Dr. Amal Wanigatunga, highlights, "Our findings suggest that doing more physical activity, even five minutes a day, can decrease the risk of dementia in older adults." The discovery contradicts existing recommendations to exercise for 150 minutes weekly, which might make brain-protective behavior accessible to every elderly person irrespective of their physical condition.

 

The findings of the study held up even after controlling for several factors, and this indicates that small, steady efforts at physical activity may be a potent weapon against cognitive impairment.

 

Sources: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Science Daily, Earth.com