Cycling and dementia: Choosing a bicycle for day-to-day trips may do more than trim emissions and save money, it could also be linked to a lower risk of dementia.
An analysis of nearly 480,000 adults in Great Britain, published in JAMA Network Open, found people who reported cycling for errands were 19% less likely to develop any dementia and 22% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those using non-active transport such as cars, buses or trains.
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The research drew on the UK Biobank, which has tracked the health of more than half a million people recruited between 2006 and 2010. Participants (average age 56.5) detailed how they got around in the previous four weeks, categorised as non-active travel, walking, mixed walking, cycling or mixed cycling, excluding commutes to and from work. Over a median 13.1-year follow-up, 8,845 developed dementia, including 3,956 with Alzheimer’s.
While physical activity has long been tied to brain health, the 2024 Lancet Commission lists it among 14 modifiable factors that could prevent or delay roughly 45% of dementia cases. Walking and mixed walking were associated with a modest 6% lower risk of overall dementia but a higher risk of Alzheimer’s in this dataset.
Researchers say that activities that raise heart and lung fitness, boost cerebral blood flow, and stimulate multiple brain systems appear to support cognition. Cycling also demands balance, coordination and route planning, factors that may add neurological benefits beyond step counts.
