Physical Activity as a Modifiable Risk Factor in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease

This Nature Medicine study published in November of 2025 supports the role of higher physical activity in slowing the rate of cognitive decline as well as the accumulation of brain biomarkers associated with dementia. The benefits of physical activity such as walking are dose-dependent, up to approximately 5000-7500 steps daily (equating to roughly 2.5-3.5 miles of daily walking).

DEMENTIA AND COGNITIVE LONGEVITY RESEARCH

12/20/2025

a couple of people riding bikes down a road
a couple of people riding bikes down a road

Featured Study Link: Physical activity as a modifiable risk factor in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease - PMC

Related Studies

Positive association of physical activity on dementia risk reduction and cognitive longevity

  1. JAMA Netw Open; Nov, 2025: Physical Activity Over the Adult Life Course and Risk of Dementia in the Framingham Heart Study - PMC

  2. Alzheimers and Dement; June, 2024: Effect of vigorous‐intensity physical activity on incident cognitive impairment in high‐risk hypertension - PMC

  3. JAMA Neurology; Sept, 2022: Association of Daily Step Count and Intensity With Incident Dementia in 78 430 Adults Living in the UK - PMC

  4. Alheimers and Dement; April,2022: Modifying effects of race and ethnicity and APOE on the association of physical activity with risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias - PMC

  5. Alzheimers and Dement; Oct, 2019: Current and past leisure time physical activity in relation to risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults - PMC

  6. Lancet Neurol; Nov, 2005: Leisure-time physical activity at midlife and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease - The Lancet Neurology

Positive associations of physical activity on brain structure