UAMS Researcher Studies Impact of Physical Activity on Dementia Patients
| Yong-Moon Mark Park, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) led a study that looked at whether physical activity could lengthen the life expectancy for patients with dementia.
“Our goal was to evaluate whether changes in physical activity levels before and after a dementia diagnosis could influence survival outcomes in individuals with dementia,” he said. “Additionally, we aimed to determine if these associations differed based on the intensity of the physical activity — whether light, moderate or vigorous.”
The British Journal of Sports Medicine published the study.
Park, an assistant professor in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Department of Epidemiology, and his research team assessed the physical activity of more than 60,000 people who were newly diagnosed with dementia between 2010 and 2016.
The individuals had undergone health checkups two years before and after their diagnosis.
“We saw a gap in research on how changes in physical activity before and after a dementia diagnosis impacts mortality,” he said. “Unlike previous studies that assessed physical activity only once, our study evaluated physical activity changes over time.”
Park, who received financial support for the project from the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and utilized research services provided by the UAMS Translational Research Institute, completed the data analysis for the study in August 2023 and submitted the manuscript in December of the same year.
Park noted that dementia is a growing problem in the U.S. In 2024 alone, the disease was estimated to impact 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older. Health care professionals expect that number to increase in upcoming years due to the aging of the nation’s population. Therefore, continued research is essential for advancing the medical community’s understanding of the disease and for developing effective interventions.
“Addressing dementia requires a multifaceted approach,” Park said. “By combining these efforts, we can strive to improve the lives of individuals with dementia, and their families, while also working toward a future where dementia is more effectively prevented or is better managed.
“Our research highlights the critical role of lifestyle factors. We found that regular physical activity may have significant benefits for reducing mortality risk. Emerging research also highlights the value of healthy diets, cognitive stimulation and social engagement to support brain health and overall well-being.”
Park hopes that the research findings will ultimately contribute to holistic, quality-of-life-enhancing strategies in dementia care. Those strategies will allow individuals with dementia to have a bigger role in preserving their own health and well-being.
The findings developed through the research include:
- Staying active — or even starting an exercise routine after a dementia diagnosis — can result in a longer life.
- People who maintained physical activity both before and after their dementia diagnosis experienced the lowest mortality risk.
- Light physical activities, like walking, were associated with up to a 30% reduction in early death risk.
- Starting physical activity after diagnosis showed benefits. However, consistent activity over time likely leads to greater reductions in mortality risk.
“These findings support public health recommendations to integrate physical activity into dementia care and encourage accessible exercise options,” Park said. “Caregivers and health care providers can play a critical role in promoting regular physical activity for people diagnosed with dementia.”
Park hopes that the data will prompt policymakers, community groups who work with dementia patients, and health care providers — both internationally and in Arkansas — to champion physical activity for people who have the disease.
“Arkansas, like many states, has an aging population and faces high rates of chronic conditions like obesity and cardiovascular disease, which can increase dementia risk,” he said. “By showing that sustained, or newly initiated, physical activity can improve survival outcomes for patients with dementia, this research provides a practical, accessible strategy that health care providers in Arkansas could promote to enhance patient outcomes.”