"The researchers found that engaging in as little as 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, compared to zero minutes per week, was associated with a 41% lower risk of developing dementia over an average four-year follow-up period. Even for frail older adults—those at elevated risk of adverse health outcomes—greater activity was associated with lower dementia risks.
The researchers found dementia risk decreased with higher amounts of physical activity. Dementia risks were 60% lower in participants in the 35 to 69.9 minutes of physical activity/week category; 63% lower in the 70 to 139.9 minutes/week category; and 69% lower in the 140 and over minutes/week category."
People keep telling they'd sacrifice everyting for an hypothetical silver bullets while doing nothing in their day to day life to mitigate all these disease. Eat clean, exercise, 8 hours of deep good uninterrupted sleep, &c.
3/4th of people are obese or overweight, the average Joe walks like 4k steps a day, people, at large, don't give a shit about health until they get a terminal diagnosis
Which is not that bad. 10k/steps was a made up marketing goal from a speedometer company. The sweet spot is around 7k/steps day, but 4k/steps day is already seeing benefits.
My father was very active well into his 80s, going for 10+km bike rides almost every day, until he got heart trouble. He would still walk for hours every day, often taking the stairs up the local hill, 400+ steps. He still got Alzheimer's. A lighter, later case than he would otherwise had, I'm sure, but still, he doesn't remember what he said 2 minutes ago, asking about the same things over and over again.
So while there are lots of excellent reasons to stay active into old age, it's not a replacement for treatment.
There seems to be a much better way:
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/small-amounts-of-moderate-...
"The researchers found that engaging in as little as 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, compared to zero minutes per week, was associated with a 41% lower risk of developing dementia over an average four-year follow-up period. Even for frail older adults—those at elevated risk of adverse health outcomes—greater activity was associated with lower dementia risks.
The researchers found dementia risk decreased with higher amounts of physical activity. Dementia risks were 60% lower in participants in the 35 to 69.9 minutes of physical activity/week category; 63% lower in the 70 to 139.9 minutes/week category; and 69% lower in the 140 and over minutes/week category."