Vigorous exercise may preserve cognition in high-risk patients with hypertension

Medical Xpress / Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist / Alzheimer's & Dementia ^ | June 6, 2024 | Richard Kazibwe, M.D. et al

[ConservativeMind]

People with high blood pressure have a higher risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia, but a new study from suggests that engaging in vigorous physical activity more than once a week can lower that risk.

In 2015, published findings from the landmark Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) showed that intensive blood pressure management reduced cardiovascular disease and lowered the risk of death.

SPRINT began in the fall of 2009 and included more than 9,300 participants with hypertension ages 50 and older, recruited from about 100 medical centers and clinical practices throughout the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to a systolic blood pressure goal of either less than 120 mm Hg (intensive treatment) or less than 140 mm Hg (standard treatment). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) stopped the blood pressure intervention earlier than originally planned to quickly disseminate the significant preliminary results, resulting in a new set of guidelines for controlling blood pressure.

In 2019, results of the ancillary SPRINT MIND trial showed that intensive control of blood pressure in older people significantly reduced the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a precursor of early dementia.

In a secondary analysis of the SPRINT MIND study, Kazibwe and team examined the effect of self-reported sessions of vigorous physical activity (at least once a week) on the risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

People who engaged in one or more sessions of vigorous physical activity per week had lower rates of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Kazibwe said that nearly 60% of study participants reported vigorous physical activity at least once a week, even among those aged 75 and up.

However, the research team found the protective impact of vigorous exercise was more pronounced for those under 75.

[ConservativeMind]

Vigorous exercise helped older individuals curb both mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

[ConservativeMind]

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[deport]

Popcorn on the rise and is harm more people as it does.

1. That bag is lined with chemicals.
2. You can get something called “popcorn lung.
3. It also contains tons of saturated fat.
4. The sodium levels are through the roof.
5. It’s just as easy to pop it yourself!

Reasons You Shouldn’t Eat Microwave Popcorn
https://www.delish.com/food-news/a43482954/microwave-popcorn-dont-eat/

[Retrofitted]

I’m not being intentionally obtuse but what, exactly, did this study consider “vigorous physical activity”?