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Moderate Physical Activity May Mitigate ALS Risk for Male Patients
Male individuals who engage in moderate physical activity and fitness may lower their risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) later in life, according to study findings published in Neurology. No similar association was found for female participants.
“The diagnosis of prominent athletes with ALS at young ages has sparked the uncomfortable idea that higher physical activity could be tied to developing ALS,” said study author Anders Myhre Vaage, MD, Akershus University Hospital in Norway. “There have been conflicting findings on levels of physical activity, fitness and ALS risk.”
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Authors examined 373,696 people in Norway; participants averaged 41 years of age, and 59% were male. Participants recorded their physical activity for 1 year, which authors then sorted into categories: 4 hours minimum of walking or cycling; 4 hours minimum of recreational sports or heavy gardening; or regular participation in hard training or sports several times a week. Researchers then followed the health of participants for an average of 27 years.
Overall, 504 people from the study developed ALS. After adjusting for other ALS risk factors, including smoking and body mass index, authors found that male participants with moderate levels of physical activity had a 29% lower risk of ALS compared to those with the lowest level of physical activity. Those with high levels of physical activity had a 41% lower risk.
“Our findings show that, for men, not only do moderate to high levels of physical activity and fitness not increase the risk of ALS, but that it may be protective against the disease,” Myhre Vaage said. “Future studies of the connection between ALS and exercise are needed to consider sex differences and higher or professional athlete physical activity levels.”
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