A 10-year longitudinal study of 2,984 older adults revealed that regular walking significantly slows cognitive decline in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers, with protective effects varying by sex and race. Specifically, Black and White females, along with White males, showed distinct benefits from walking which slowed declines in executive function and global cognition. The analysis indicates that physical activity interventions should be tailored to APOE ε4 carriers, highlighting the need to consider genetic, sex, and racial factors in cognitive aging research.

Source: AAIC 2025 Abstract