Physical exercise and activity may be important in reducing dementia risk at any age

Lifestyle interventions such as physical exercise may provide inexpensive and effective ways to delay the onset of cognitive decline and dementia. If we are able to reduce Alzheimer neuropathology in the future as now appears possible,1 combining pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions will likely provide the best prevention for cognitive decline and dementia. In this respect, prevention of dementia and cognitive impairment would be similar to current preventive treatments for diabetes and vascular disease, where both types of interventions are used.