Regular Physical Activity in Midlife and Later Years Supports Brain Health

Written by: Stephanie Beebe
Updated: 02/25/2026
Published: 02/25/2026

A Boston University School of Public Health article highlights new research suggesting that higher levels of physical activity in midlife and late life may meaningfully reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that being active during midlife (ages 45–64) was associated with about a 41% lower dementia risk, while activity during late life (ages 65–88) was linked to up to a 45% lower risk.

Researchers also noted that exercise intensity mattered more in midlife, with more vigorous activity showing the strongest relationship to lower dementia risk. In older adults, the study did not find a clear difference in dementia risk based on intensity. The team used data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort and evaluated participants’ activity using a physical activity index based on time spent in sedentary, light, moderate, and heavy activities.

The article also explains potential pathways for why exercise may help protect brain health, including improvements to cardiovascular health and reductions in inflammation. The researchers additionally observed that the relationship between physical activity and dementia risk differed for people with certain genetic risk factors, underscoring that more research is still needed to understand how activity patterns across adulthood influence long-term cognitive outcomes.

Source: Mid- and Late-Life Physical Activity May Reduce Dementia Risk By Up to 45% (Boston University School of Public Health)