A1 Journal article (refereed)
Physical activity may not be associated with long‐term risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (2021)


Kunutsor, S. K., Laukkanen, J. A., Kauhanen, J., & Willeit, P. (2021). Physical activity may not be associated with long‐term risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 51(3), Article e13415. https://doi.org/10.1111/eci.13415


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsKunutsor, Setor K.; Laukkanen, Jari A.; Kauhanen, Jussi; Willeit, Peter

Journal or seriesEuropean Journal of Clinical Investigation

ISSN0014-2972

eISSN1365-2362

Publication year2021

Publication date29/09/2020

Volume51

Issue number3

Article numbere13415

PublisherWiley

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/eci.13415

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71974


Abstract

Background
While it is well established that physical activity is associated with reduced risk of vascular and non‐vascular outcomes as well as mortality, evidence on the association between physical activity and dementia is inconsistent. We aimed to assess the associations of physical activity with the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Material and methods
We analysed data on 2,394 apparently healthy men with good baseline cognitive function from the prospective population‐based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease study. We assessed habits of physical activity at baseline using a 12‐month leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) questionnaire. Using Cox regression, we calculated hazard ratios adjusted for body‐mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking status, history of type‐2 diabetes, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, alcohol consumption, history of coronary heart disease, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein.

Results
During a median follow‐up of 24.9 years (interquartile range: 18.3‐26.9), 208 men developed dementia and 128 developed AD. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for dementia comparing top vs. bottom tertiles of physical activity were 0.97 (95% confidence intervals: 0.69‐1.38) for total physical activity volume, 0.96 (0.69‐1.34) for conditioning LTPA volume, and 1.13 (0.80‐1.61) for total LTPA volume. Corresponding hazard ratios for AD were 1.19 (0.76‐1.85), 0.98 (0.64‐1.49), and 1.22 (0.77‐1.93). Associations were consistent in analyses restricted to participants with ≥10 years of follow‐up.

Conclusions
In middle‐aged Caucasian men, various physical activity exposures were not associated with all‐cause dementia or AD. Future studies should address biases due to reverse causation and regression dilution and should involve objective measures of physical activity.


Keywordsphysical activitydementiaAlzheimer's diseaserisk factorscohort study

Free keywordsphysical activity; dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; cohort study; risk factor


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2021

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-26-03 at 09:19