Researchers have dubbed this pattern of exercise the “weekend warrior” approach, which could be more convenient and achievable for individuals with busy lifestyles. The importance of identifying modifiable risk factors for dementia cannot be overstated, as a 5-year delay in its onset could halve its prevalence. The study drew on two sets of survey data from the Mexico City Prospective Study, conducted between 1998-2004 and 2015-2019, including responses from 10,033 participants with an average age of 51.
Participants were asked about their exercise routines, including frequency and duration. From these responses, four groups emerged: no exercisers, weekend warriors (exercising once or twice a week), regularly active individuals (three or more times a week), and a combined group of weekend warriors and regular active individuals. The Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function during the second survey, with a score of 22 or less out of 30 defining mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The study identified 2400 cases of MCI over an average monitoring period of 16 years. MCI prevalence was 26% among no exercisers, 14% among weekend warriors, and 18.5% among the regularly active. After adjusting for factors such as age, education, smoking, sleep, diet, and alcohol intake, weekend warriors were 25% less likely to develop MCI compared to no exercisers, while the regularly active were 11% less likely.
When MCI was defined as an MMSE score of 23 or below, weekend warriors were 13% less likely to develop MCI compared to no exercisers, with regularly active individuals and the combined group 12% less likely. The results were consistent for both men and women. The researchers estimated that 13% of MCI cases might be avoided if all middle-aged adults exercised at least once or twice a week.
While the study is observational and does not allow for firm conclusions about causality, it does suggest several possible explanations for the protective effect of exercise on brain health. Exercise may increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations, which support neuron growth and survival, and enhance brain plasticity. Physical activity is also linked to greater brain volume, executive function, and memory.
Conclusion
The present study is the first to show that both weekend warrior and regularly active physical activity patterns are associated with similar reductions in the risk of mild dementia. The findings have important implications for policy and practice, suggesting that the weekend warrior pattern may be a more convenient option for busy individuals in Latin America and globally.
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