Exercise does not protect against Alzheimer's disease with a sedentary lifestyle — study

Even regular physical exercise cannot protect the brain from the negative effects of prolonged sitting. This conclusion was reached by scientists from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who published their research results in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.

404 people participated in the experiment. For a week, they wore devices that tracked their level of physical activity. The scientists compared this data with MRI results and cognitive tests collected over the past seven years.

It turned out that even with regular training, prolonged time spent in a sitting or lying position leads to a decrease in brain volume in areas associated with Alzheimer's disease. These changes are especially noticeable in people who have a genetic predisposition to the disease - carriers of the APOE-e4 allele.

"One workout a day is good, but not enough. It's important to reduce the total time spent in a sedentary state, especially if a person is in a risk group," noted Marissa Gogniat, Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh.

The study emphasizes the need not only to engage in sports but also to regularly change body position and avoid prolonged inactivity throughout the day.