Walking can have beneficial effects on cognitive performance, but these effects are influenced by sex and genetic status.
A 10-year study showed that APOE e4 carriers experience faster cognitive decline than APOE e2 and e3 carriers. In males, walking time and APOE status were not as strongly associated with cognition.
Maintaining walking time over 10 years was associated with slower cognitive decline among APOE e4 carriers. The apolipoprotein gene is often referred to as the “Alzheimer’s disease” gene. APOE comes in three forms: e2, e3, and e4. An individual receives one APOE copy from each parent, resulting in six potential combinations.
For example, someone could have a copy of both e3 and e4, or someone could have two copies of e2. Most people have at least one e3 allele, whereas the e4 and e2 forms are less common. Those who carry e2 are at a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals who carry e3 are not more or less at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
On the other hand, carriers of at least one copy of e4 are at a greater risk of acceleratedAlthough possessing APOE e4 increases your risk for Alzheimer’s, it does not mean that you will develop Alzheimer’s disease. That is, increased risk does not equate to an eventual diagnosis. In fact, a recent paper reviewed many longitudinal studies and noted that most e4 carriers will not develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime ..
For example, among APOE e4 carriers, females are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than males . Additionally, physical activity may benefitexamined some of these complex relationships between genetics, sex, physical activity, and cognition . The study included 3,000 older adults from the Pittsburgh and Memphis areas.
Compared with other aging studies, the study sample included both Black and White participants with a wide range of educational attainment. This is important because studies that include participants with a variety of backgrounds make the study findings moreThe study was longitudinal, which means the same participants were followed over a period of time. Here, participants completed tasks assessing general cognitive function,, and processing speed multiple times over 10 years.
At each annual appointment, participants also reported the amount of time they spent walking each week . This information was used to evaluate how walking time was associated with cognition for males and females for each APOE type: e2, e3, and e4. Individuals with APOE e4 declined faster on cognitive tests over 10 years relative to those with APOE e3.
However, it is important to highlight that despite a faster decline, e4 carriers, on average, were not below cutoff scores that would indicate substantial impairment on the cognitive tests. In other words, these individuals were not diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or, even after 10 years. This is an example of how one can experience cognitive decline yet not be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Greater walking time reported at the first appointment was associated with better cognitive performance for APOE e2 and APOE e3 females, but no relationship was observed for females who possessed APOE e4. In males, initial walking time did not show associations with cognitive performance for those with APOE e2 or APOE e3, but greater walking time was associated with lower global cognition for APOE e4 carriers.in walking time over the 10 years was also assessed.
Male and female APOE e4 carriers who increased or maintained their walking time showed less cognitive decline. This relationship was not observed among APOE e3 carriers or APOE e2 carriers. To be clear, this doesn’t necessarily mean that APOE e3 and APOE e2 carriers should hang up their walking shoes just yet!
Results from this study suggest that increased walking time may be an important habit to build for those at increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease . Of course, this does not eliminate risk for Alzheimer’s disease or completely stop cognitive decline.
However, it may slow these processes and is an accessible option that may make a real difference for someone’s cognitive abilities. This study is not suggesting that every e4 carrier must run a marathon every weekend—no matter how fun that may sound. The study reported that APOE e4 carriers who maintained 94 percent of their walking time from the prior year experienced less cognitive decline.
This means that APOE e4 carriers should continue to prioritize their walking time as they age. On average, over 10 years, participants walked 90 minutes per week . This is not a prescription, meaning that 90 minutes isn’t a magic number to follow. Rather, this illustrates the potential feasibility of implementing a walking routine as a daily habit.
Note that it may not even be necessary to have a single 12-minute walk. Rather, increasing your walking time in brief bouts throughout the day may suffice. The significance of walking impacting cognition is underscored by the lack of available and effective medications for cognitive decline. Emerging amyloid-targeting treatments for Alzheimer’s disease have limited improvements in cognition and daily functioning.
Moreover, these drugs may not be available for APOE e4 carriers due to the risks associated with the treatment, indicating that there may be barriers to treatment for those at genetic risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. One surprising finding was that a change in walking time was not associated with slower cognitive decline for the other APOE types.
There can be several explanations for this, and it does not mean that physical activity is not helpful for people who have APOE e2 or e3. One potential reason may be that the duration or intensity of physical activity was not sufficient for the maintenance of cognitive performance. This is referred to as aWith limited available and effective treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease, those at genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease may feel overwhelmed.
It is important to understand that increased genetic risk, such as being an APOE e4 carrier, does not mean that one will develop the disease. This study highlights the significance of focusing on lifestyle variables that can be modified as a feasible way to slow cognitive decline as we age, especially among those who carry APOE e4. Burma, J. S., Rosano, C., Best, J. R., Simonsick, E. M., Liu-Ambrose, T., & Barha, C. K. .
Walking to protect against cognitive decline: The role of APOE genotype and sex. Farrer, L. A. . Effects of Age, Sex, and Ethnicity on the Association Between Apolipoprotein E Genotype and Alzheimer Disease: A Meta-analysis. Jensen, C. S., Simonsen, A. H., Siersma, V., Beyer, N., Frederiksen, K. S., Gottrup, H., Hoffman, K., Høgh, P., Frikke‐Schmidt, R., Sobol, N. A., Waldemar, G., Wermuth, L., & Hasselbalch, S. G. .
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease who carry thePalmer, J. M., Huentelman, M., & Ryan, L. . More than just risk for Alzheimer’s disease: APOE ε4’s impact on the aging brain.is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and a core member of the Center for Brain Injury Recovery and Discovery at The Ohio State University. Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted?
Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
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