🧠 Active Travel Mode and Incident Dementia and Brain Structure

Published In: JAMA Network Open
Date: June 2025
Authors: Hou et al.
Link to Study: https://jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14316

Summary

A major UK-based study found that people who regularly cycled or combined cycling with other forms of transportation had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, including young-onset and Alzheimer’s disease. These active travel habits were also linked to larger volumes in brain areas important for memory, such as the hippocampus. The benefits were especially strong in people without a genetic risk factor for dementia.

Key Takeaways

Compared to non-active travel (like driving or using public transportation), individuals who cycled had:

✅  19% lower risk of all-cause dementia
✅  22% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease
✅  40% lower risk of young-onset dementia
✅ Larger hippocampal volumes – a brain region essential for memory

This research also underscores the unique cognitive and neurological benefits of cycling.

Why It Matters for You

If you’re middle-aged or older, cycling – whether for errands, leisure, or transportation – might not only boost your physical fitness but also protect your brain health. Even combining cycling with other travel modes can make a difference.

Citation

Hou, C., Zhang, Y., Zhao, F., et al. (2025). Active travel mode and incident dementia and brain structure. JAMA Network Open, 8(6), e2514316. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14316