Women with superior physical fitness in midlife face an 88% lower risk of developing dementia decades later compared to moderately fit peers, according to a rigorous long-term study. Researchers assessed cardiovascular fitness through maximal exercise tests. Even among highly fit women who developed dementia, onset occurred 11 years later on average—at age 90 versus 79 for moderately fit women.
In this study, 191 women averaging 50 years old underwent exhaustive cycling tests to gauge peak cardiovascular capacity, averaging 103 watts. Forty women qualified as highly fit (120 watts or higher), 92 as moderately fit, and 59 as low fit (80 watts or less, or those halting due to high blood pressure, chest pain, or other issues).
Over 44 years, participants underwent six dementia screenings. Of the 44 who developed it, just 5% were highly fit, versus 25% moderately fit and 32% low fit. Highly fit women were 88% less likely to develop dementia than moderately fit ones; 45% of those stopping tests early due to issues later did.
“This indicates that there may be negative cardiovascular processes in middle age that could increase the risk of dementia later in life,” said Hörder.
