Cycling Linked to Lower Dementia Risk and Better Brain Health, Study Finds

Cycling, alone or with other travel modes, is linked to a 19% lower risk of all-cause dementia and greater brain volume, especially in the hippocampus. In contrast, walking showed a slight increase in Alzheimer's risk and reduced gray matter volume.

A large UK study, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that cycling, whether alone or combined with other travel modes, is associated with a 19% reduced risk of all-cause dementia compared to non-active travel, such as driving or public transport. The study also found that cycling corresponds with increased hippocampal and gray matter volumes, key indicators of better brain health.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 480,000 UK Biobank participants (average age, 56.5 years; 54% women) over a median follow-up period of 13.1 years. Participants were categorized into four groups based on their travel habits, excluding work commutes: nonactive, walking, mixed walking, and cycling or mixed cycling.

Compared with nonactive travel, the cycling groups showed significant increases in gray matter across 10 brain regions and greater hippocampal volume. Cycling was linked to reduced risks of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, young-onset dementia, and late-onset dementia. Notably, participants without the APOE ε4 gene variant showed greater benefits, with lower risks of dementia. In contrast, walking was unexpectedly associated with a slight increase in the risk of Alzheimer's disease and a decrease in gray matter volume. 

(Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/could-traveling-bicycle-protect-against-dementia-2025a1000gzr )