The ‘Weekend warrior’ exercise regimen can be equivalent to regular intervals to reduce the risk of cognitive decline

Just one or two sessions of exercise per weekend—the so-called “weekend warrior”—may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, which often precedes dementia, such as periods more frequently, completes published online surveys. to British Journal of Sports Medicine.

And it can be easy and accessible for busy people as well, suggest the researchers.

It is important to identify modifiable risk factors for dementia because a five-year delay in onset can reduce its prevalence, they say, adding that almost all the evidence so far comes from in studies of high-income countries.

Therefore they used two sets of research data from the Mexico City Prospective Study, the first took place between 1998 and 2004, and the second took place between 2015 and 2019.

About 10,033 people (average age 51) completed both surveys and their responses were included in the analysis.

For the first survey, respondents were asked if they exercise or play sports, and if so, how much per week, and for how long (in minutes).

Four groups were derived from the responses: the no exercisers; the ‘weekend warriors’ who exercised/played sports once or twice a week; regularly active people who did so three or more times a week; and a mixed group consisting of weekend warriors and regulars.

The Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) was used to assess mental function during the second examination. A score of 22 or less was used to define MCI.

In total, 7,945 respondents said they do not exercise at all; The 726 fulfilled the definition of a weekend warrior; 1,362 said they exercise several times a week; and 2,088 made up the combined group.

During an average monitoring period of 16 years, 2,400 cases of MCI were identified. The prevalence of MCI was 26% among non-exercisers; 14% among weekend warriors; and 18.5% among those working regularly.

After taking into account potential influencing factors including age, educational attainment, smoking, nighttime sleep, diet and alcohol consumption, weekend warriors were less likely to 25% more likely to have MCI than those who did not exercise, while those who exercised regularly were 11% less likely to do so. . Those in the combined group were 16% less likely to do so.

When MCI was defined as an MMSE score of 23 or less, 2,856 cases were identified. And the prevalence of MCI rose to 30% among non-exercisers, 20% among weekend warriors, and 22% among regular exercisers.

Compared to non-exercisers, weekend exercisers were 13% less likely to develop MCI, while regular exercisers and those in the combined group were 12% less likely to develop MCI. Go for it. The results were similar for men and women.

Researchers estimate that, in theory, 13% of cases could be avoided if all middle-aged adults exercised at least once or twice a week.

This is an observational study, so no firm conclusions can be made about causation. And the researchers acknowledge various limitations in their findings. For example, survey respondents may not have been representative of the middle-aged population, and there were no appropriate measures of physical activity.

But there are several possible explanations for the apparent protective effect of exercise on brain health, they explain.

“For example, exercise may increase the expression of neurotrophic factor in the brain [molecules that support the growth and survival of neurons] and brain plasticity. Physical activity is also associated with greater brain volume, greater executive function, and greater memory,” they write.

“To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first prospective cohort study to show that both weekend and regular exercise are associated with a similar reduction in the risk of ‘ mild dementia,” they continued.

And they go on to suggest that the findings “have important implications for policy and practice because the weekend warrior’s workout routine may be a convenient option for busy Latin American people and in other places.”