A recent medical study has revealed that cycling is not only beneficial for the environment and physical health but can also protect the brain from memory-related diseases in old age, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.


The study was published in the renowned journal JAMA Network Open and analyzed data from nearly 480,000 people in the UK. According to the results, individuals who use a bicycle for daily commuting instead of a car, bus, or train had a 19% lower risk of dementia and a 22% lower risk of Alzheimer’s.


Experts say that cycling helps keep the hippocampus—the part of the brain that controls memory and learning—larger and healthier.


During a 13-year follow-up in the study, 8,845 people developed dementia and 3,956 were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.


Among those who walked regularly, the risk of dementia was found to be 6% lower, but surprisingly, their risk of Alzheimer’s was 14% higher.


Most cyclists were found to be physically active, healthy, and leading a better lifestyle.


Dr. Joe Varghese, a professor of neurology, stated that this is the first study to demonstrate the positive effects of cycling on brain structure. According to him, cycling improves blood flow, strengthens heart health, and supports the growth of brain cells.


On the other hand, Dr. Sanjula Singh from Harvard Medical School said that since this is an observational study, it cannot directly prove that cycling prevents dementia; however, a strong correlation between the two was observed.


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently over 55 million people with dementia worldwide, and this number could triple by 2050.


Experts believe that exercise, particularly cycling, could serve as a simple yet effective measure to manage this disease.