Any degree of physical activity may slow cognitive decline, especially among Hispanic adults
Physical activity and controlling blood sugar in midlife are associated with a significantly slower rate of cognitive decline later in life, with exercise particularly beneficial for Hispanics, new research from UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, suggests.
New research from UT Health San Antonio suggests that engaging in any level of physical activity may help slow cognitive decline, with particularly beneficial effects for Hispanic adults. The study, titled "Longitudinal association between midlife cardiovascular health and cognitive change in a bi-ethnic cohort," included 402 participants in San Antonio, 52% of whom were Hispanic and the rest non-Hispanic white, with an average age of 57.9.
The results showed that higher physical activity levels were linked to slower cognitive decline, especially among Hispanics, while lower fasting blood glucose levels were associated with slower cognitive decline in non-Hispanic whites. Improving cardiovascular health through lifestyle changes could potentially reduce the burden of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, particularly in high-risk populations.
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