Moderate-to-vigorous exercise could significantly reduce the risk of developing brain-related health conditions, new research has revealed.
Research set to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting in April 2025 suggests that all forms of moderate-to-intense physical activity could cut the risk of neuropsychiatric conditions - such as stroke, dementia, sleep disorders, and anxiety - by up to 40 per cent.
The NHS defines moderate-to-vigorous exercise as physical activities that range from brisk walking to more intense activities like running and swimming laps. These activities get your heart rate up, making you breathe harder than usual.
Scientists examined data from more than 73,000 adults with an average age of 56, which revealed all five neuropsychiatric conditions were less common in physically active participants.
Participants had their movements tracked through accelerometers
GETTY
Additionally, when individuals engaged in a certain level of physical exertion measured in energy expenditure, they were protected from the diseases in the study, suggesting a specific threshold of exercise is beneficial for disease prevention.
The findings, which are yet to undergo peer review, stem from a new approach to measuring physical activity levels in study participants.
All subjects wore an accelerometer continuously for seven days to track their movements.
The devices measured physical activity, sedentary time and energy expenditure during exercise.
"Accelerometers provide objective measurements that classify physical activity based on varying intensities, ensuring the precision of results," explained Dr Jia-Yi Wu from Huashan Hospital Fudan University in Shanghai, a co-lead author of the study.
The team calculated energy use through metabolic equivalents (METs), which measure energy expenditure during different activities.
The study found participants who achieved moderate to vigorous physical activity were 14 to 40 per cent less likely to develop neuropsychiatric diseases.
"This study underscores the pivotal role of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in reducing the risk of five neuropsychiatric disorders," said Dr Wu.
She noted that the findings show that different conditions respond differently to exercise.
"The observed 14 per cent to 40 per cent reductions in risks suggest that different neuropsychiatric diseases exhibit varying degrees of exercise sensitivity, providing a foundation for tailored intervention strategies."
Dr Wu described physical activity as a "safe, cost-effective, and modifiable factor" that "holds great promise, especially in ageing populations."
The research also identified a specific threshold for disease prevention. Participants with an average daily moderate to vigorous physical activity energy expenditure of 1.22 kilojoules per kilogram did not develop any of the five diseases studied.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Moderate to vigorous activities get the heart rate up
GETTY
"The findings reinforce a dose-response relationship between physical activity and health benefits," Dr Wu explained.
This supports existing public health guidelines on exercise. Dr Wu highlighted that exercise represents "a cost-effective and accessible preventive strategy, particularly for high-risk populations".
The research adds to growing evidence that physical activity plays a crucial role in brain health.
