Turns out your daily commute can affect more than just your road rage — it could also influence how your brain ages.
New research published today suggests that how you get from point A to point B can significantly impact your risk of dementia.
“We have about 55 million people living with dementia, and that number is expected to almost triple by 2050,” Dr. Liron Sinvani, a geriatrician and researcher with Northwell Health who was not involved with the study, told The Post.
“We know that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to dementia, which leads us to: What are modifiable risk factors or things that we can change in our life to reduce our risk of dementia? And physical activity is one of the main factors that that has been raised over and over.”
That’s why it may not be altogether shocking that a new study indicates cycling is the gold standard for commuting when it comes to staving off cognitive decline.
“One of the hypotheses they raised was that cycling is a moderate- to high-intensity workout, and also requires balance,” Sinvani said of the study.
“It requires more complex brain function than walking, which is why maybe it was a better reducer of dementia risk.”
If cycling to work sounds a bit too Danish to you, walking is still a worthwhile second — but you might want to steer clear of subways, buses or, yes, even Ubers.
“Another interesting thing they found was that even when using inactive travel like car or public transportation, it seemed like driving had a little bit better impact [on brain health] than public transportation,” she said.
That could possibly be due to the fact that driving requires more attention, coordination and decision-making skills, giving your brain more of a workout than zoning out on the train.
Ultimately, though, it’s all about making lifestyle choices that are realistic but also give your brain a boost.
“We know that not being socially isolated is important. So getting out and being active is super important,” she said.
To her, the study is “not about just doing exercise and making that part of your routine, but thinking about the way you live your life. So, instead of having to drive somewhere, taking that bike and using active travel modes to get around as part of your lifestyle becomes very important.”
Whenever people ask her what they can do to stave off dementia, her biggest piece of advice is “whatever gets you outside doing stuff.”
“I think we see that it’s not just the physical activity, but it’s also in the balance, and it really engages different parts of your brain,” she said.
If the choice is between walking and taking a bike, she would suggest going with the bike — but if it’s between walking and staying home?
“I would say definitely walk,” she said.
The latest study aligns with previous findings that say two of the most modifiable factors for reducing the risk of dementia are exercise and socializing.
So, if you’re really strapped for time, cycling to work with a friend is probably one of the best things you can do for your brain.
