Exercise & Cognition: Hypertension Study
- Engaging in vigorous physical activity, such as running or swimming, more than once a week may lower the risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia, for people with high...
- The research builds on the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) begun in 2009, which involved over 9,300 participants with hypertension.A follow-up, SPRINT MIND, indicated that intensive blood...
- Richard Kazibwe,M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and lead author, and his team analyzed data from the SPRINT MIND study, examining...
New research reveals a compelling link: vigorous exercise, like running or swimming, may help reduce the risk of cognitive impairment for those with high blood pressure. This finding, published in alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, highlights the positive impact of physical activity on brain health, especially for individuals under 75. The study, building on the SPRINT MIND trial, demonstrates that even a single weekly session of vigorous exercise could led to lower rates of dementia. Scientists analyzed data from over 9,300 participants. News Directory 3 brings you this vital health update. Further research is needed to refine exercise recommendations. Discover what’s next in preserving cognitive function.
vigorous Exercise May Lower Dementia risk, study finds
Updated June 14, 2025
Engaging in vigorous physical activity, such as running or swimming, more than once a week may lower the risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia, for people with high blood pressure, according too a new study. Researchers at Wake Forest university School of Medicine published their findings in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The research builds on the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) begun in 2009, which involved over 9,300 participants with hypertension.A follow-up, SPRINT MIND, indicated that intensive blood pressure control could reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment.
Richard Kazibwe,M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and lead author, and his team analyzed data from the SPRINT MIND study, examining the impact of self-reported vigorous physical activity on cognitive decline. The results showed that individuals engaging in at least one session of vigorous exercise per week experienced lower rates of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Kazibwe noted that nearly 60% of participants reported engaging in vigorous physical activity weekly, even those 75 and older.
”It is welcome news that a higher number of older adults are engaging in physical exercise,” Kazibwe said. “This also suggests that older adults who recognize the importance of exercise may be more inclined to exercise at higher intensity.”
The study indicated that the protective effect of vigorous exercise was more noticeable in participants younger than 75. Kazibwe emphasized the need for further research using device-based measurements and diverse populations.
What’s next
Future studies should incorporate device-based physical activity measurements and include more diverse participant populations to confirm these findings and refine exercise recommendations for preserving cognitive function.