External Link: Cycling Lower Dementia Risk Study Wellness
Written by CNN
A large observational study from the UK Biobank suggests that cycling as a regular mode of transportation may significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Tracking nearly 480,000 adults over more than 13 years, researchers found that people who cycled had a 19% lower risk of all-cause dementia and a 22% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared with those who relied on nonactive travel such as cars or public transport, and they also showed greater hippocampal volume, a brain region crucial for memory and learning. While walking showed more mixed results, cycling stood out as the most strongly protective activity, even when accounting for genetic risk factors like APOE ε4. Although the study cannot prove causation and relied on self-reported habits, experts note that cycling likely supports brain health by improving cardiovascular fitness, blood flow, and neuroplasticity, reinforcing decades of evidence that regular physical activity plays a key role in reducing dementia risk.
