#LancetStudy

A new Lancet study highlights how regular physical activity protects brain health as we age, potentially lowering the risk of dementia and other cognitive conditions. The findings are especially relevant for Thailand, where an aging population makes brain health a growing concern for families and the health system.

Thailand’s population is aging rapidly, with projections suggesting more than 20% of residents will be 60 or older by 2025. The study reinforces a long-standing Thai belief in “kaeng raeng”—robust health through movement—showing that exercise does more than keep the body fit. It activates molecular and cellular processes that shield brain tissue from age-related decline.

A new study published in The Lancet has shed light on the powerful neuroprotective effects of regular exercise, highlighting its vital role in promoting healthy brain ageing and potentially reducing the risk of dementia and other cognitive diseases. The findings are of particular significance for Thai readers, as Thailand faces an ageing society with rising concerns over brain health and dementia rates among older adults.

With Thailand’s population shifting rapidly towards the elderly—projections estimate that over 20% of Thais will be aged 60 or over by 2025—the burden of age-associated cognitive decline has become a pressing issue for families and the healthcare system alike. The newly published research underscores the importance of fitness, adding scientific weight to long-standing folk wisdom encouraging an active lifestyle for “kaeng raeng”—robust health. The study, titled “Neuroprotective mechanisms of exercise and the importance of fitness for healthy brain ageing,” explains that physical activity goes beyond maintaining muscle and heart health: it triggers specific molecular and cellular mechanisms that directly protect brain tissue from age-related degeneration.