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Participation in Japanese croquet and strength exercise is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia in older Japanese community-dwelling adults

In a prospective cohort of 5074 older Japanese adults, participation in Japanese croquet (adjusted HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.46-0.99) and strength exercise (adjusted HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.81) was significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia over a 4-year follow-up, compared to non-exercisers. Other exercise types (calisthenics, walking, golf) did not show significant associations.

Last updated: Aug 13, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Types of Exercise and Risk of Developing Dementia in Older Japanese Community-Dwelling Adults: A Prospective Study.

observational

Nagata K, Tsunoda K, Fujii Y, Seol J, Jindo T, Shibuya K, Okura T · Geriatrics & gerontology international (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 4 years
Intervention: Participation in specific types of exercise (Japanese croquet, strength exercise, calisthenics, walking, golf) versus no exercise
Outcome: Incident dementia, assessed using the nationally standardized scale by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
Effect Size: Japanese croquet: HR=0.68 (95% CI 0.46-0.99); Strength exercise: HR=0.26 (95% CI 0.08-0.81)
Population: Community-dwelling older adults in Japan (aged 65+ presumably), 5074 participants

Result:

PubMed: 42571904DOI: 10.1111/ggi.70774

Mechanism Graph

Exercise may improve cardiovascular health and reduce vascular risk factors
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Exercise may enhance neuroplasticity and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor
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Social engagement in group activities like croquet may reduce cognitive decline
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Strength exercise may improve muscle mass and metabolic health, reducing dementia risk

Limitations

  • ⚠Observational study design; cannot establish causality
  • ⚠Self-reported exercise participation may introduce misclassification bias
  • ⚠Only 5 exercise types with sufficient sample size were analyzed; other types may have effects not detected
  • ⚠Follow-up of 4 years may be too short to capture long-term dementia risk
  • ⚠Potential residual confounding from unmeasured factors (e.g., baseline cognitive status, socioeconomic status)

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of exercise were found to reduce dementia risk?▼

Japanese croquet and strength exercise were associated with significantly lower dementia risk, with hazard ratios of 0.68 and 0.26, respectively.

How long was the follow-up period in this study?▼

Participants were followed for 4 years, from 2017 to 2021, with a median follow-up of 4.0 years.

Did walking or calisthenics reduce dementia risk?▼

No, walking and calisthenics did not show statistically significant associations with dementia risk in this study.

What population was studied?▼

The study included 5074 community-dwelling older adults in Japan, with a mean age not specified but typical of older adults.

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References

  1. 1.Nagata K, Tsunoda K, Fujii Y, Seol J, Jindo T, Shibuya K, Okura T. "Types of Exercise and Risk of Developing Dementia in Older Japanese Community-Dwelling Adults: A Prospective Study.." Geriatrics & gerontology international, 2026. PMID: 42571904 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.70774
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.