Being physically energetic in midlife and old age could also be more essential for cognitive health than doing so during early maturity. A study Published online on November 19, 2025. JAMA Network Open..
Using data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort, which began within the early Nineteen Seventies, researchers identified nearly 4,300 participants who each had physical activity measured during one in every of three life stages: early maturity (ages 26 to 44), midlife (45 to 64) or late life (86). The researchers used participants’ reports of the time they spent in light, moderate, and vigorous activity to create a rating that represented their activity level.
Comparing these scores to the participants’ health over the next years (until the study resulted in 2023), the researchers observed that those that engaged in essentially the most physical activity in midlife and late life had a 36 percent to 45 percent lower risk of developing dementia than those that were less energetic. (Physical activity in early maturity has not been shown to be related to dementia risk.)
The findings only show an association, however the researchers emphasize that making regular physical activity a habit as you age could also be key to cognitive preservation.
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