Exercise tied to reduced risk for some neuropsychiatric diseases
Key takeaways:
- Adults who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity were less likely to develop certain neuropsychiatric diseases.
- Sedentary behavior increased the risk for developing these diseases.
People who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity may be less likely to develop dementia, stroke, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders compared with those with more sedentary behavior, according to preliminary study results.
The research will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting, April 5 to 9, in San Diego and online.
“Neuropsychiatric diseases, such as dementia, depression and stroke, pose a major global health challenge due to their high prevalence, severe impact on quality of life and significant economic burden,” Jia-Yi Wu, MD, a researcher at Fudan University in Shanghai, told Healio. “Early prevention, diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Our findings reinforce a dose-response relationship between physical activity and health benefits, supporting public health guidelines and highlighting exercise as a cost-effective and accessible preventive strategy, particularly for high-risk populations.”
In a large-scale prospective study, Wu and Jin-Tai Yu, MD, PhD, professor and deputy director of the university’s department of neurology, utilized accelerometer data from 73,411 adults (mean age, 56.08 years; 55.72% women; 96.4% white) to investigate the relationship between neuropsychiatric diseases and physical activity or sedentary behavior.
Moderate to vigorous physical activity had a strong protective effect on neuropsychiatric diseases (HRs, 0.6-0.86), according to the researchers, whereas more sedentary time was a risk factor (HRs, 1.05-1.54).
“The observed reductions in risk, ranging from 14% to 40%, indicate that neuropsychiatric disorders exhibit differential sensitivity to exercise,” Wu said. “This variability underscores the need for individualized intervention strategies tailored to specific patient profiles.”
Wu noted specific recommendations for patients, which include engaging in daily activities that burn calories, such as walking or even gardening; making a conscious effort to sit less; and embracing all activity levels.
“You don’t need to commit to intense workouts,” she said. “Even light to moderate activities can have a meaningful impact on your well-being.”
The researchers acknowledged that a limitation of the study was that most participants were white and the results may not apply to other racial/ethnic groups.
Reference:
- Physical activity linked to lower risk of dementia, sleep disorders, other diseases. https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5238. Published Feb. 27, 2025. Accessed March 5, 2025.