A recent study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that regular biking for transportation could lower the risk of dementia by 19% and Alzheimer's by 22%. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 480,000 participants in the UK Biobank study and found that those who cycled or included cycling in their daily travel routine had a lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's over a 13-year follow-up period. MRI brain scans also showed that cycling was associated with a larger hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory. However, the study noted that the benefits of cycling were more pronounced in individuals without a genetic risk for Alzheimer's. While the study couldn't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it suggests that promoting active travel strategies like cycling may have significant public health benefits for cognitive health preservation. (Upi)
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