I recently came across this article comparing the dementia risks for people using different forms of active and passive transit. Cyclists came out on top, with significantly lower rates of various forms of dementia.
“Previous studies have found a link between spatial navigational abilities and brain volume, which fits in with what the researchers found here: that cyclists ended up with higher hippocampal volumes.
“It could be the level of physical activity cycling demands that is largely responsible lowering the dementia risk, or having to negotiate routes and directions, or the need to stay alert, or perhaps being more exposed to fresh air.”
The study was careful to note that it was a link, but not necessarily a causal relationship. That makes me happy; I’m always suspicious of studies that aren’t clear about what they don’t know or didn’t examine.
I have written about the positive impacts of dance in fighting off dementia before, and more recent research backs it up. The London Taxi Driver Study researched a much more sedentary population, but one that relies on negotiating routes and directions, and where significantly larger hippocampus was found in study participants.
I’m happy to have another incentive to ride my bike.
