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Objective physical activity in people with young onset dementia, late onset dementia, and without dementia: A UK Biobank study
Nicholas Lawlis, Nicolas Cherbuin, Ananthan Ambikairajah, Hollie Speer, Nathan Martin D'Cunha, Ben Rattray, Joseph M. Northey. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease, 2025-09-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
BackgroundCurrent physical activity literature does not distinguish between young (dementia diagnosed before 65) and late onset dementia despite differences between these groups such as age, being known to influence physical activity levels.ObjectiveThe primary aim was to compare objective physical activity levels between people with young onset dementia, late onset dementia, and age-matched control participants without dementia.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis included four groups (young onset dementia [n = 23]; young onset control [n = 782]; late onset dementia [n = 30]; late onset control [n = 918]) of participants aged 49 to 76 (56% male) from the UK Biobank. Objective light intensity physical activity, moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep were measured using 7-day wrist-worn accelerometry.ResultsPeople with young onset dementia did more light and moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity than those with late onset dementia, with these differences becoming nonsignificant when controlling for age. There were no significant differences between people with young onset dementia and the young onset control group. Comparatively, people with late onset dementia did less light intensity physical activity and spent more time sedentary and sleeping than the late onset control group.ConclusionsThis study highlights the distinct physical activity levels of people with young onset and late onset dementia. Future physical activity research should distinguish between young onset and late onset dementia. Such an approach will be important for producing findings that are more applicable for individuals diagnosed with dementia at all stages of life.
Key findings
- There were no significant differences between people with young onset dementia and the young onset control group.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study found no significant differences in physical activity between people with young onset dementia and age-matched controls without dementia. People with late onset dementia did less light activity and spent more time sedentary and sleeping than controls, but the study cannot show whether activity levels affect dementia risk.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants23
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer s Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” 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 | 1 / 4 | 23 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Joseph M. Northey: h-index 12 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Sydney: institution h-index 1,466 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40888513) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Lawlis, N., Cherbuin, N., Ambikairajah, A., Speer, H., D'Cunha, N. M., Rattray, B., et al. (2025). Objective physical activity in people with young onset dementia, late onset dementia, and without dementia: A UK Biobank study. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251374261
Vancouver
Lawlis N, Cherbuin N, Ambikairajah A, Speer H, D'Cunha NM, Rattray B, et al. Objective physical activity in people with young onset dementia, late onset dementia, and without dementia: A UK Biobank study. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. 2025. doi:10.1177/13872877251374261. PMID: 40888513.
BibTeX
@article{lawlis2025-40888513,
author = {Lawlis, Nicholas and Cherbuin, Nicolas and Ambikairajah, Ananthan and Speer, Hollie and D'Cunha, Nathan Martin and Rattray, Ben and Northey, Joseph M.},
title = {{Objective physical activity in people with young onset dementia, late onset dementia, and without dementia: A UK Biobank study}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer s Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/13872877251374261},
pmid = {40888513},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251374261}
}
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