RT Journal
A1 Abbott RD, White LR, Ross G, Masaki KH, Curb J, Petrovitch H
T1 WAlking and dementia in physically capable elderly men
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2004
FD September 22
VO 292
IS 12
SP 1447
OP 1453
DO 10.1001/jama.292.12.1447
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.292.12.1447
AB Context 
                  Evidence suggests that physical activity may be related to the clinical
expression of dementia. Whether the association includes low-intensity activity
such as walking is not known.Objective 
                  To examine the association between walking and future risk of dementia
in older men.Design 
                  Prospective cohort study.Setting and Participants 
                  Distance walked per day was assessed from 1991 to 1993 in 2257 physically
capable men aged 71 to 93 years in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. Follow-up
for incident dementia was based on neurological assessment at 2 repeat examinations
(1994-1996 and 1997-1999).Main Outcome Measures 
                  Overall dementia, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia.Results 
                  During the course of follow-up, 158 cases of dementia were identified
(15.6/1000 person-years). After adjusting for age, men who walked the least
(<0.25 mile/d) experienced a 1.8-fold excess risk of dementia compared
with those who walked more than 2 mile/d (17.8 vs 10.3/1000 person-years;
relative hazard [RH], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-3.01). Compared
with men who walked the most (>2 mile/d), an excess risk of dementia was also
observed in those who walked 0.25 to 1 mile/d (17.6 vs 10.3/1000 person-years;
RH, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.02-2.86). These associations persisted after accounting
for other factors, including the possibility that limited amounts of walking
could be the result of a decline in physical function due to preclinical dementia.Conclusions 
                  Findings suggest that walking is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
Promoting active lifestyles in physically capable men could help late-life
cognitive function.