New study reveals cycling can reduce dementia risk by 88%
Getting older is inevitable, but there's been a host of studies that prove regular exercise is one of the best ways to future-proof your health.
Data shows that women make up two thirds of dementia cases globally, with the loss of estrogen during menopause increasing the risk of the most common types of dementia. Yet a 44-year study, published in the journal Neurology, has linked cycling to long-term brain protection.
What the study shows
The study looked at a sample of 1462 women aged 38 to 60. At the start of the study, between 1968-1970, 191 of the women completed a maximal cycling test on a stationary bike. They performed various cycling intervals, cycling at a low intensity, and increasing the intensity every few minutes until they reached exhaustion.
Their peak workload achieved at exhaustion was recorded. This was measured in watts, and researchers used it as a marker for their maximal cardiovascular fitness level.
The researchers concluded that high fitness delayed the age of dementia onset by 9.5 years, and that the women who demonstrated high cardio fitness had an 88% lower risk of developing dementia.
The women in the study were then examined for signs of dementia in 1974, 1980, 2000, 2005, and 2009. This included neuropsychiatric examinations, interviews with the women, and hospital records. The researchers also looked at socioeconomic factors, like income and education, as well as the women's diets, smoking habits, and any existing illnesses.
The results showed that only 5% of the highly fit women, based on the scores in the cycling tests at the beginning of the study, developed dementia, compared to 32% in the moderate group. The researchers concluded that high fitness delayed the age of dementia onset by 9.5 years, and that the women who demonstrated high cardio fitness had an 88% lower risk of developing dementia.
How to get started with cycling
If you're not into cycling, or you don't have the space to install one of the best exercise bikes in your home, don't panic. Building cardiovascular fitness can be achieved through swimming, running, and even fast walking, so it's not just biking that holds memory-boosting benefits.
Of course, while this is an impressive longitudinal study, there are limitations — for example, the women classified as 'highly fit' are likely to have a better diet and healthier habits. What's more, the study only looked at Swedish women. More research is needed into the subject, but staying fit and healthy as you get older is definitely beneficial for your physical and mental health.
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More from Tom's Guide
Forget running and swimming — study finds this sport adds 10 years to your life
Forget swimming and yoga — according to research, this type of exercise adds years to your life
Strength training vs cardio: Which is better during menopause?
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I Got a $4,500 Full-Body MRI to Catch Hidden Health Risks—Here's What It Found
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." I've always believed in being proactive about my health, but like most people, I usually only see a doctor when something feels wrong or if I'm overdue for an annual exam. That changed when I learned about the Prenuvo scan—a whole-body MRI designed to detect serious conditions like cancer, aneurysms, and degenerative diseases before symptoms appear. The idea of a non-invasive, radiation-free scan that could potentially catch issues early intrigued me. Still, I was skeptical. It's not a medically necessary procedure, is quite pricey (more on this later), and not widely available. Would it be just another wellness trend wrapped in high-tech marketing, or could it actually be the latest health breakthrough—or better yet, a life-saving health screening? Prenuvo has gained a lot of attention lately, especially after celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner publicly endorsed it, calling it a 'life-saving machine.' Though I don't have an endless health budget of a Hollywood elite, I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary Enhanced Screening. I'm 27 years old, generally healthy, and have no major concerns aside from some chronic neck pain and degenerative disc disease, of which I've already had imaging and treatment. Still, with a family history of cancer and a growing awareness that symptoms don't always show up until it's too late (I've worked at Prevention for years), the opportunity to really see what's going on inside my body excited me. Meet the experts: Daniel Durand, M.D., M.B.A., chief medical officer and president of Prenuvo Medical Group; Ken Berry, M.D., family physician and co-author of Common Sense Labs; and Mia Kazanjian, M.D., board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging The entire process, from booking the appointment to the scan itself to my post-scan consultation, was overall a positive experience. In this Prenuvo review, I'll walk through what the appointment was like, the cost, what my screening found, what medical experts think of a (non-medically-necessary) whole-body MRI, and ultimately, whether I think it was worth it. What is a whole-body MRI scan? An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging technique that 'uses protons, magnets, and radio frequency pulses' to create a detailed picture of the inside of the body, says Mia Kazanjian, M.D., board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging. 'It has no radiation, unlike CT scans and X-rays.' MRI is typically used on individual parts of the body, like the pelvis or the head, on an as-needed basis. Whole-body MRI, on the other hand, does exactly what it sounds like: It uses the same magnetic resonance imaging technology to take a picture of the whole body, which, at Prenuvo, takes about an hour. 'Typically, imaging is done in a very focused manner based on a specific question that another physician is asking,' says Daniel Durand, M.D., M.B.A., chief medical officer and president of Prenuvo Medical Group. 'What Prenuvo does is digitize the entire body. You can think of Prenuvo as a tech-enabled, direct-to-specialist care model. We're digitizing the human body with the most powerful tool, which is MRI, and then we're having a radiologist do a head-to-toe, on the inside, examination of the patient.' An important note about the limitations of whole-body MRI: 'Preunvo exists to layer on top of existing screenings. This is in addition to, not a replacement of, and we have always said that,' Dr. Durand explains. 'The idea is that if you have a primary care doctor and you're doing your routine screenings, Prenuvo supercharges all that. Our belief is that whole body MRI, plus existing screenings, offers a level of diagnostic accuracy and reassurance that goes beyond anything that came before.' Ken Berry, M.D., family physician and co-author of Common Sense Labs, agrees that right now, whole-body MRI doesn't replace guideline-based screening (like colonoscopies or mammograms). 'It's a supplemental tool, not a substitute,' he says. 'Whole-body MRI can detect early cancers, aneurysms, and neurological issues, but it's not always better than traditional screening.' Dr. Berry says if you have a strong family history of cancer, a genetic risk, or a history of serious illness, it may be worth considering, but he's cautious about recommending it for the average healthy adult. My experience I underwent the Enhanced Screening, the most thorough evaluation Prenuvo offers. This included a whole-body MRI, which covered the brain, chest, abdomen, pelvis, spine, and major vasculature, free from radiation or contrast; a body composition analysis and advanced brain health assessment (taken during the MRI); and a comprehensive bloodwork panel. The actual experience of getting the MRI was fairly painless. Before the procedure, I was sent a fairly lengthy survey of my medical history to determine whether it was safe for me to undergo the scan and ascertain any health concerns I may have. I also took Prenuvo up on the offer to take a light sedative before heading in to ease any anxiety or claustrophobia to make the experience more comfortable. Then, I arrived at the Manhattan location ready to sit still in an MRI machine for just about an hour. Surprisingly, that hour went by pretty quickly. They gave me the option to choose a show or movie to watch on Netflix during the scan (I decided on Ginny and Georgia), which helped move things along mentally. Before I knew it, I was heading home, where a nurse from a concierge service employed by Prenuvo later drew my blood for the bloodwork portion. About two weeks after my scan, Prenuvo reached out to schedule my post-scan consultation with Vikash Modi, M.D., senior medical director of preventative medicine at Prenuvo. My virtual consultation with Dr. Modi lasted about 45 minutes, and he walked me through my scan, all of my bloodwork, my body composition analysis, and brain health assessment. He also answered any questions I had and gave me a few suggestions regarding my health moving forward. The results About a week prior to officially receiving my results, I got a call from Dr. Modi to discuss one potentially urgent finding from my bloodwork. My blood panel showed that I had a glucose level of 38, which can be very dangerous. We discussed that this was likely due to fasting all day before the bloodwork (which I had scheduled for 3:00 p.m.), as my A1c (a blood test that measures the average blood glucose from the last two-to-three months) was normal. But I was advised to repeat bloodwork with my primary care physician as a precaution. Dr. Modi then reassured me that there were no other major findings on my scan or my bloodwork, but that we would discuss it further at my official consultation. Fast forward to that appointment: Dr. Modi thoroughly went over my results, starting with my bloodwork, then my scan, the brain health assessment, and finally body composition analysis. Thankfully, my bloodwork showed I'm in good health, which was reassuring since the blood panel was very comprehensive. However, as Dr. Berry explains, 'comprehensive' doesn't always mean 'useful.' While it did give me a lot of peace of mind, Dr. Berry says that 'although most doctors don't order enough bloodwork, as I discuss in Common Sense Labs, it is also true that ordering too much labwork creates a new set of problems,' including confusion and the potential for reacting when it may not be medically needed. My scan, however, did show one moderate finding, four minor findings, and one informational finding. In addition to my virtual consultation with Dr. Modi, I was able to visit the Prenuvo online dashboard, which features an interactive and informative report. FLAIR hyperintense lesion, right frontal lobe. This sounds scary, but it was actually one of my 'minor findings.' On the Prenuvo app, it was labeled a 'small vessel ischemia,' which is a term describing the changes that occur by disrupting the small blood vessels in the brain, and is often a sign of poor cardiovascular health. However, Dr. Modi reassured me that the online interface is always being updated, and that the patient-facing side doesn't always align perfectly with the clinical interpretation. In my case, it may have been caused by head injuries I sustained during my time as a cheerleader. I had no signs of white matter disease, aneurysm, growths, or masses, and overall, my brain volume was very healthy. Scoliosis. I knew about this 'minor finding' previously from a recent X-ray. I have 'mild' scoliosis in my lumbar spine. Spondyloarthropathy of the cervical and thoracic spine. These are two 'minor findings' I was also aware of from previous imaging. Spondyloarthropathy is the medical term for degenerative arthritis. I have long struggled with neck and upper back pain, and have been undergoing treatment (mainly physical therapy) for a few months now. Discussing these findings with Dr. Modi reassured me that I'm doing everything right in my current treatment plan. Hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. This was my only 'moderate finding;' one that I was not previously aware of. While I'm not experiencing any symptoms due to these benign, fluid-filled ovarian cysts, I'm glad I know about them now in case they ever do rupture or cause any complications. While Dr. Modi didn't officially diagnose me, he suggested these may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) due to my semi-irregular menstrual cycle, history of acne, and recent struggle to lose weight. He suggested some supplements I might consider taking and made me aware of the typical treatment and medications doctors usually prescribe, should I ever seek that. Dense breast tissue. The scan also revealed that I have dense breast tissue, which means I have more glandular tissue (as opposed to fat tissue) in my breasts, which may make it more difficult to screen for breast cancer with a typical mammogram. I was already aware of this, as I have a history of breast cysts, which is why I get regular ultrasounds. 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Again, thankfully, Dr. Modi ensured that for the most part, my analysis falls into 'normal' ranges for my age and sex, except that I actually have a bit more muscle mass than average, which is a good thing. This test was really interesting to look at because it included a very detailed analysis of hip and lower body muscle volume, as well as a symmetry analysis. None of this was major, but it did confirm a few things I suspected about the way my body works and moves. Are whole-body MRIs the future of preventative healthcare? It's difficult to say. 'The essence of what Prenuvo does, and I think it's poorly understood, is that we don't by ourselves prevent anything. But, we can absolutely help a patient choose their own destiny and pursue the right preventative strategies, because we can show them what's going on in them, as opposed to just general advice,' Dr. Durand explains. However, as Dr. Durand and the Prenuvo website state, there are limitations. I asked Dr. Berry, an unaffiliated family physician, whether whole-body MRIs can meaningfully replace or reduce the need for standard individualized screenings based on modern-day recommendations. He said, not right now. It doesn't replace guideline-based screening. 'It can't do what a colonoscopy or mammogram does, and it doesn't offer the same level of detail. It's a supplemental tool, not a substitute,' Dr. Berry explained. 'If it could fully replace traditional tests, I'd be on board, but the evidence just isn't there yet.' Dr. Kazanjian adds that whole-body MRI 'tends to be more effective at detecting lesions in the kidneys, pancreas, lymph nodes, and bones, among some others,' but that the screening's ability to characterize them as benign or malignant may be limited. She adds that whole-body MRI does not effectively screen for some of the most common cancers, including skin cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer. And while there will certainly be 'findings of import on these exams,' including brain aneurysms, evidence of autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndromes, and small cancers, among others, Dr. Kazanjian explains, it's impossible to say whether whole-body MRI truly leads to improved health outcomes or whether those results would be uncovered via traditional screening methods. There's also the aspect of incidental or benign findings, which are clinically insignificant (meaning they cause no harm), but create a type of 'scanxiety,' or anxiety felt by patients pre- and post-scan, Dr. Kazanjian says. The cost and impact My Enhanced Screening at the Manhattan location has a cost of $4,500, but it varies based on the exact scan you choose, and sometimes, the location. There are less costly options, like the regular whole-body MRI ($2,500) or the torso-only MRI ($999). Prenuvo also offers its Warriors Program, which offers discounted services to first responders, military members, and veterans. While some doctors, like Dr. Kazanjian, do recommend whole-body MRI for high-risk individuals (like those with a strong family history of cancer and/or genetic mutations) and for patients with cancers such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma, it is generally not recommended for the general population, she explains. 'I do not think this is cost-effective for the population, particularly given the large percentage of false positives with the necessity for costly follow-ups,' says Dr. Kazanjian. 'I say this even if the initial service were cost-free.' Dr. Durand also acknowledges that not everybody can afford the Prenuvo model of healthcare today. That's why he says Prenuvo is working every day to harness the powers of artificial intelligence to become more efficient, which will allow them to bring prices down long-term. In terms of side effects, MRI, including whole-body MRI, is mostly safe. The 'scanxiety' and inconsequential benign findings that Dr. Kazanjian points out are the main downsides. As with any MRI, it's important to tell your doctor and radiologist if you have any metal or electrical implants in your body (such as pacemakers and infusion pumps), as the magnetic field generated by the MRI machine can pose a hazard to patients in these cases. The detailed questionnaire sent over by the Prenuvo team before your appointment covers these in length, and your radiologist will also inquire about any metal in or on your body before your scan. The bottom line 'These scans have potential and may help in the future, but right now they're best for people with high risk or specific concerns or a lot of disposable income,' Dr. Berry explains. 'For the average person, they often create more questions than answers. Too much testing can lead to fear, cost, and harm, especially when there's no clear benefit. 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