Researchers at Columbia University and the University of Miami found the
risk of small brain infarcts, or ‘silent strokes,’ was 40% lower in
older people who reported high levels of physical activity, but this
benefit was not seen in those who only exercised lightly.
The researchers recorded the exercise habits of 1,238 participants, who were on average 70 years old and have never had a stroke. Adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, the results indicated the intense activities such as racquetball, tennis, jogging, and hiking significantly lowered rates of small brain infarcts, areas of dead tissue resulting from lack of blood supply, compared to those who were either slightly active or sedentary.
However, the benefits of moderate to high activity levels were wiped out for those on Medicaid or without health insurance. These participants, who were highly active, showed the same risk of infarcts as inactive participants. Researchers could not definitively explain the reasons behind the effect of insurance status, but they suggested one theory. “It may be that the overall adverse life experience for those who are uninsured or have Medicaid mitigates the protective effect of leisure-time physical activity,” wrote researchers. “It is likely that being uninsured or having Medicaid is a reflection of lower socioeconomic status and is consistent with the extensive literature on social status being associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease independently of access to care.”
