Cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of dementia: a longitudinal cohort study

Introduction Our main aim was to explore and elucidate whether metabolic equivalents of task (METs), as a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), was associated with dementia. Method A symptom‐limited bicycle standard exercise test was performed in 4030 patients with no cardiovascular events. Dementia was classified according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision codes. One MET corresponds to an oxygen uptake of 3.5 mL/kg/min. Results During a median follow‐up of 26.5 years, 104 cases of dementia occurred. In a fully adjusted model subjects with CRF of >9 METS had a 53% (hazard ratio (HR) 0.47, 95% CI (0.22, 0.99), p = 0.048) decreased risk of incidencec dementia compared to those CRF <6 METS. Discussion Exercise training is an important modifiable factor that improves CRF and may help in dementia risk.