A couple of years ago a research study reported that running more than 15 miles a week may reduce the risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease. However, it's not just running that may reduce risk, but walking may too -- if the amount of energy expended is equivalent to running more than 15 miles weekly, the study found. However, walkers have to walk about 50 percent further, walk briskly, and put in more exercise time.
The study's results indicate that exercise appears to prevent the shrinkage in the brain that occurs with age, and preserving brain volume may be why vigorous exercise helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer's death.
The study included more than 153,000 runners and walkers who had been participating in the National Runners' and Walkers' Health Studies. Men and women were recruited for the studies beginning in the early 1990s. The participants were followed for an average of almost 12 years and the number who died of Alzheimer's disease were tracked. Over the follow-up, there were 175 deaths from Alzheimer's disease.
In the study, those who ran more than 15.3 miles weekly had a 40 percent risk reduction in death from Alzheimer's. Running between 7.7 and 15.3 miles was linked with a 25 percent risk reduction. The amount of running needed to lower risk substantially is about double the current exercise recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC exercise guidelines are equivalent to running 4.6 to 7.7 miles a week.
It should be kept in mind that because the participants in the study were exercisers, they are not representative of the general population -- many of whom don't exercise.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
