SPOTLIGHT ON: Study finds two minutes of exercise may reduce dementia risk

SPOTLIGHT ON: Study finds two minutes of exercise may reduce dementia risk

People aged over 60 can reduce the risk of age related illnesses such as dementia through just two minutes of exercise per week, according to research from Abertay University.

The ground-breaking study saw 17 people aged between 60 and 75 take part in two training sessions per week for 10 weeks. 

The group took part in what is known as sprint interval training (SIT) and were asked to cycle as hard as they could on a stationary bike for six seconds before resting.

They then repeated the process until they achieved a total of one minute of high intensity exercise in each session.

Each participant had hypertension - a risk factor for dementia - and was on medication to control their blood pressure. By the end of the study, their blood pressure had fallen to normal, healthy levels. This happened without any change in medication or diet.

30% of Scotland’s population will be aged over 60 in the next five years, and it is projected that age related illnesses will place increasing strain on the NHS.

Dr John Babraj, who led the study, is a lecturer in Exercise Physiology at Abertay University, which offers a range of degrees within the Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

He said: “The potential outcomes of this could be massive. We have an ageing population and people are living for longer. However, their lifestyles aren’t necessarily healthier.

“There’s a big increase in the number of people who have movement difficulties and in the number of people who have illnesses associated with ageing such as dementia, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“What we’ve seen with this simple exercise is a reduction in blood pressure which could potentially lead to a reduction in long term frailty and in the extent of dementia in older people.”

To read the study in full, click here.

For information about Abertay University's sport courses visit: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/schools/social-and-health-sciences/division-of-sport-and-exercise-sciences/