Research published in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that higher levels of physical fitness in midlife are linked to a reduced risk of stroke in later years. The study followed nearly 20,000 adults aged 45 to 50, assessing their cardiorespiratory fitness and grouping them into low, medium, or high fitness categories. Results showed that individuals with the highest fitness levels in midlife had a 37% lower chance of experiencing a stroke after age 65 compared to those with the lowest fitness levels.
Stroke remains the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major contributor to long-term disability. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining physical fitness not only in youth but throughout adulthood.
The researchers hope this evidence will encourage healthcare providers to recognize low fitness as a risk factor for stroke, alongside conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. The American Heart Association advises adults to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, about 30 minutes a day, five days a week, to support heart and brain health.
Source:
Pandey A, Patel M, Willis B, et al. Association Between Midlife Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Risk of Stroke: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. Stroke, doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011532.
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