There is controversy about whether or not exercise has protective effects against the incidence of first stroke among older people. Now, in the November 24, 2009 issue of the journal Neurology, researchers report that moderate- to heavy-intensity physical activity reduces the risk of ischemic stroke, at least in men.

In order to evaluate the impact of exercise on stroke risk¸ investigators from Columbia University and their colleagues studied more than 3000 stroke-free people who participated in the Northern Manhattan Study. The average age of the study sample was 69 years. Over 40 percent of the people studied reported physical inactivity, and only 20 percent reported regular participation in moderate- to heavy-intensity activities. Over an average follow-up period of approximately 9 years, there were 238 cases of ischemic stroke. The researchers found that moderate- to heavy-intensity exercise was associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke in men, but not in women. Interestingly, this association was related solely to the intensity of physical activity, and not to the amount of total energy spent.

This reduction in stroke risk was also independent of the improvements physical activity has on high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Thus, it seems that, at least for older men, engaging in moderate- to heavy-intensity exercise may be an important part of primary prevention for reducing stroke risk.
 

Source:

Neurology 2009;73:1774-1779.