Regular Vigorous Exercise May Reduce Cognitive Decline in High-Risk Hypertension Patients: Study Findings

A newly released study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, reveals that engaging in vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) at least once a week could lower the risk of cognitive impairment in individuals with high-risk hypertension. This research conducted by Richard Kazibwe and colleagues from various institutions including Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, utilized the SPRINT MIND study's participants for their analysis.

The study categorized participants into two groups based on their self-reported VPA: low VPA, less than one session per week; and high VPA, at least one session per week. It then used multivariate Cox regression analysis to explore the link between VPA frequency and incidents of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probable dementia.

Results indicated that those in the high VPA category experienced fewer incidents of MCI (13.9 vs 19.7 per 1000 person-years), probable dementia (6.3 vs 9.0 per 1000 person-years), and combined MCI/probable dementia (18.5 vs 25.8 per 1000 person-years) compared to the low VPA group. After adjusting for a variety of factors including demographic information and health habits, high VPA was significantly associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment.

What's more, this correlation seemed consistent across all included subgroups, highlighting the potential of VPA as a protective factor for cognitive health, particularly in those with high-risk hypertension. This is noteworthy due to the well-established benefits of exercise for managing hypertension, which is a risk factor for cognitive decline.

The rigorous analysis accounted for possible biases due to the differential attrition or missing data. However, limitations include reliance on self-reported VPA, which is prone to inaccuracies, and the exclusion of light and moderate physical activity from analysis. Also, since the data were taken at the study's baseline, changes in VPA over time were not factored in.

This research sheds light on the specific type and frequency of physical activity that may aid in reducing the risk of cognitive impairment in older, high-risk individuals. While the results are promising, further research is needed with diverse populations and objective measures of physical activity to confirm and extend these findings.

The full study is available at the following link: https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13887, published by Wiley Online Library on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association.

This article was crafted with the support of https://www.buoyhealth.com, assisting readers in gaining valuable insights into the potential benefits of vigorous-intensity physical activity for cognitive health.