Hypertension is an established risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and it also represents a key modifiable risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment. Physical activity, by itself, is associated with a lower risk of decline in cognition, however, the optimal volume and intensity of exercise to benefit cognition is still unclear.
In a new study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, a team of researchers led by Dr Richard Kazibwe from the University School of Medicine, North Carolina (US) investigated the association of self-reported vigorous physical activity (VPA) with the risk of developing cognitive impairment among 7,670 individuals aged ~70 years (34.5% women) with high-risk hypertension undergoing blood pressure control. In the study, participants were asked about the frequency with which they engaged in VPA (i.e. activities that would make the person sweat, increase their heart rate, or increase their breathing) over the past 12 months.
According to the self-reported VPA, researchers classified participants into two groups; the high VPA category and the low VPA category, where the former refers to participants engaging in VPA once or more than once per week and the latter states the VPA frequency to be less than one session per week. After a maximum follow-up of 7.4 years, the risk of cognitive impairment outcomes was analysed. The incidence of MCI and dementia among participants with high-risk hypertension who reported engaging in VPA with a frequency of one or more sessions per week had a lower risk of MCI and probable dementia than those who engaged in less than one session of VPA per week.
Researchers also adjusted the results for alcohol consumption, depression, and cardiovascular risk factors, which had a minimal effect on the link between VPA and cognition. Although the researchers showed the role of VPA as a preserver of the cognitive function in people with hypertension, further studies with longer observational periods, a diverse population of participants, and objective measures of physical activities are needed to confirm these findings.