Regular cycling is not only beneficial for the environment, your finances, and physical fitness, but a new study has also shown it may reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
A recent UK study revealed that regular cycling lowers the risk of developing all forms of dementia by 19% and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 22% compared to using less active forms of transport, such as a car, bus, or train. The study included nearly 480,000 people, and its results were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Physical activity has long been linked to a reduced risk of dementia. In 2024, the Lancet Commission identified it as one of 14 factors that could prevent or delay about 45% of all cases. Currently, more than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, and this number could triple by 2050.
The study participants, with an average age of 56.5 years, reported their preferred mode of transport for non-work trips: inactive (car, public transport), walking, mixed (walking + transport), and cycling. Over 13.1 years, 8,845 participants developed dementia, and 3,956 developed Alzheimer’s disease.
The results showed that cycling is associated with larger hippocampal volumes—the brain region responsible for memory and learning. Participants without the genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease (APOE ε4) had a 26% lower risk of dementia, while carriers of the genetic variant had a 12% lower risk.
Experts noted that the study is observational and does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between cycling and dementia prevention.
