Impact of Physical Activity on Cognitive Decline, Dementia, and Its Subtypes: Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
Date
2017-02
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hindawi
Abstract
The association of physical activity with dementia and its subtypes has remained controversial in the literature and has continued
to be a subject of debate among researchers. A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies on the relationship
between physical activity and the risk of cognitive decline, all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia among
nondemented subjects are considered. A comprehensive literature search in all available databases was conducted up until April
2016. Well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed with focus on prospective studies ≥ 12 months. The overall
sample from all studies is 117410 with the highest follow-up of 28 years.The analyses are performed with both Bayesian parametric
and nonparametric models. Our analysis reveals a protective effect for high physical activity on all-cause dementia, odds ratio
of 0.79, 95% CI (0.69, 0.88), a higher and better protective effect for Alzheimer’s disease, odds ratio of 0.62, 95% CI (0.49, 0.75),
cognitive decline odds ratio of 0.67, 95% CI (0.55, 0.78), and a nonprotective effect for vascular dementia of 0.92, 95% CI (0.62, 1.30).
Our findings suggest that physical activity is more protective against Alzheimer’s disease than it is for all-cause dementia, vascular
dementia, and cognitive decline.
Description
Keywords
Impact, Physical Activity, Cognitive Decline, Dementia, Meta-Analysis, Prospective, Studies, Subtypes