Physically fit people are one-third less likely to develop Alzheimer's, according to Washington Hospital Medical Center. Details will be revealed at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in April 2022.

The researchers collected data on 650,000 people around the age of 61. They did not have Alzheimer's disease at the start of the study. The researchers divided the participants into five groups based on their fitness levels, as measured by a treadmill test.

Over the next nine years, Alzheimer's disease was 33% less common in the fittest group than in the least fit group.

"The idea that you can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease simply by increasing your activity is very promising, especially given that there are no adequate methods to prevent or stop the progression of the disease," the authors note. “We hope to develop a simple scale that can be individualized so that people can see the benefits that even gradual improvement in fitness can bring.”

The study participants were predominantly white men, the authors note, so it remains to be seen what the results will be for other populations.

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