**"Weekend Exercise Just as Effective in Reducing Dementia Risk, Study Finds"**

A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that exercising only on weekends can be as effective in decreasing the risk of mild dementia as more frequent exercise routines. Researchers concentrated on "weekend warriors," who engage in physical activity once or twice a week, and found their dementia risk comparable to those who workout regularly.

The collaborative study, conducted by academics from Latin America and Europe, scrutinized survey data from the Mexico City Prospective Study. This longitudinal study examined the health of thousands of citizens in Mexico's capital. The initial data collection occurred between 1998 and 2004, with a follow-up survey beginning in 2015 and concluding four years later.

A total of 10,033 participants, averaging 51 years of age, were involved in both surveys. The first survey inquired about exercise habits, including frequency and duration, while the second survey used the Mini Mental State Examination to evaluate cognitive function.

Participants were divided into four groups: non-exercisers, weekend warriors, those exercising at least three times a week, and a combined group of regular exercisers and weekend warriors. Findings indicated that weekend exercisers were 13% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment compared to non-exercisers. Similarly, regularly active individuals and the combined group showed a 12% lower risk, with these results consistent for both men and women.

Lead author Gary O'Donovan, from Colombia’s University of the Andes, noted that about half of the weekend warriors exercised for at least 30 minutes per session, while others engaged in physical activity for an hour or more. O'Donovan emphasized the significance of this pattern, highlighting the major barrier of time limitations that prevent many adults from engaging in more frequent exercise.

The study's authors acknowledged that this is the first longitudinal research to demonstrate equivalent dementia risk reduction between weekend warriors and regular exercisers. Confounding factors considered included age, sex, education, and body mass index.

Chris Russell, a senior lecturer at the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies in the UK, praised the research, though he stressed the necessity for further studies in middle- to low-income countries. He highlighted the benefits of physical activity, both formal and informal, in preventing dementia and emphasized the value of social engagement that accompanies exercise.

According to the World Health Organization, over 55 million people globally suffer from dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed annually. This study suggests that for busy individuals, dedicating time to exercise on weekends may be a feasible and beneficial approach to reducing dementia risk.