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Dose- and pattern- physical activity is associated with lower risk of dementia
Wang Y, Li F, Cao S, Jia J. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 2025-06-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background The amount and pattern of physical activity that benefits cognitive health remain unclear. Methods Participants from the UK Biobank cohort who had a full week of accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA) data were included in the analysis. The data for dementia diagnosis were collected from 2006 to 2024. Associations between the incidence of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and PA amounts and patterns were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. The analysis included 1) comparing MVPA gradients with reference group performing less than 150 min/week; 2) classifying MVPA patterns as effective intensive (≥300 min/week with ≥50 % of MVPA in 1-2 days), effective regular (≥300 min/week not up to effective intensive), and ineffective ( Results 91,512 individuals (mean [SD] age, 56.03[7.8] years; 55.9 % female) were included. Compared with participants performing 300 min/week of MVPA was associated with a reduced risk. When stratified at 300 min/week of MVPA, hazard ratios for dementia were 0.73 (95 % CI: 0.60-0.89) for the weekend pattern and 0.79 (95 % CI: 0.64-0.98) for the regular pattern. For ineffective MVPA, engaging in >840 min/week of LPA was associated with lower dementia incidence. Conclusions Accumulating >300 min/week of MVPA, whether concentrated within 1-2 days or distributed evenly across the week, was associated with a decreased risk of dementia. Additionally, higher levels of LPA partially compensated for low MVPA in lowering dementia risk.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Wang, Y., Li, F., Cao, S., & Jia, J. (2025). Dose- and pattern- physical activity is associated with lower risk of dementia. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100223
Vancouver
Wang Y, Li F, Cao S, Jia J. Dose- and pattern- physical activity is associated with lower risk of dementia. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100223. PMID: 40514301.
BibTeX
@article{wang2025-40514301,
author = {Wang, Y. and Li, F. and Cao, S. and Jia, J.},
title = {{Dose- and pattern- physical activity is associated with lower risk of dementia}},
journal = {Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100223},
pmid = {40514301},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100223}
}
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Key findings
- The analysis included 1) comparing MVPA gradients with reference group performing less than 150 min/week; 2) classifying MVPA patterns as effective intensive (≥300 min/week with ≥50 % of MVPA in 1-2 days), effective regular (≥300 min/week not up to effective intensive), and ineffective (<300 min/week); 3) performing stratified analyses by age, sex, and APOE ε4 carrier status; and 4) evaluating the association between LPA and dementia risk among participants classified as ineffective MVPA levels.
- Compared with participants performing 300 min/week of MVPA was associated with a reduced risk.
- For ineffective MVPA, engaging in >840 min/week of LPA was associated with lower dementia incidence.
- Conclusions Accumulating >300 min/week of MVPA, whether concentrated within 1-2 days or distributed evenly across the week, was associated with a decreased risk of dementia.
Why it matters
This UK Biobank cohort found that more than 300 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity was linked to lower dementia risk, whether spread out or concentrated on weekends. It is observational, so it cannot prove that activity prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Study designcohort
- Participants91,512
- Effect sizeHR 0.73 (95% CI 0.60-0.89) for >300 min/week concentrated in 1-2 days vs <150 min/week
- Evidence strengthModerate
Limitations
Observational; single week of measurement; UK Biobank healthy-volunteer effect; thresholds chosen post hoc.
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on free to read, so that was left out: it earned 55 of the 98 points we could judge it on, which is 56 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 63 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 91,512 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jianping Jia: h-index 61 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Capital Medical University: institution h-index 643 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40514301) |
| Free to read | — / 2 | Access not recorded — left out of this score |
| Points | 55 / 98 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 55 of the 98 points we could judge it on is 56 out of 100. |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100223
- PubMed: 40514301
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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