Individuals with high blood pressure face a heightened risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia. However, recent findings from a study conducted by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine offer promising news: engaging in vigorous physical activity more than once a week can significantly mitigate this risk.
The Benefits of Physical Exercise
“We know that physical exercise offers many benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving heart health and potentially delaying cognitive decline,” said Richard Kazibwe, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author. “However, the amount and the intensity of exercise needed to preserve cognition is unknown.”
Insights from the SPRINT Study
The landmark Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), initiated in the fall of 2009, provided foundational insights. This extensive study included over 9,300 hypertensive participants aged 50 and older, recruited from about 100 medical centers and clinical practices across the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive treatment group with a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 120 mm Hg or a standard treatment group with a goal of less than 140 mm Hg. The significant preliminary results prompted the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to halt the intervention earlier than planned, leading to new guidelines for blood pressure management.
In 2019, the SPRINT MIND trial, led by Wake Forest University School of Medicine, demonstrated that intensive blood pressure control in older adults notably reduced the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to early dementia.
Investigating the Role of Vigorous Physical Activity
In a secondary analysis of the SPRINT MIND study, Kazibwe and his team explored the impact of self-reported vigorous physical activity (at least once a week) on the risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. They discovered that individuals who participated in vigorous physical activity once or more per week exhibited lower rates of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Kazibwe highlighted a noteworthy trend: nearly 60% of the study participants reported engaging in vigorous physical activity at least once a week, even among those aged 75 and older. “It is welcome news that a higher number of older adults are engaging in physical exercise. This also suggests that older adults who recognize the importance of exercise may be more inclined to exercise at higher intensity,” he noted.
Age-Dependent Benefits
However, the protective effects of vigorous exercise were found to be more pronounced in individuals under 75 years old.
“While this study provides evidence that vigorous exercise may preserve cognitive function in high-risk patients with hypertension, more research is needed to include device-based physical activity measurements and more diverse participant populations,” Kazibwe added.
The study underscores the significant role of vigorous physical activity in reducing the risk of cognitive impairment among individuals with hypertension. As the population ages and the prevalence of hypertension rises, these findings highlight an actionable pathway to mitigate cognitive decline through regular, vigorous exercise. Future research will aim to refine these insights and broaden their applicability across diverse demographic groups.
The findings appear in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
