If you needed another reason to ride a bike, science has just given it to you.
A study published in June 2025 in the prestigious scientific journal JAMA Network Open finds that those who use bicycles as a means of transportation in their daily lives have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who travel exclusively by car or public transportation.
The study in numbers
The study analyzed data from nearly 480,000 participants in the UK Biobank, with a median follow-up of 13 years. The results are impressive: those who commuted by bike had a 19% lower risk of dementia of all causes compared to those who did not commute actively. Even more impressive is the finding for early-onset dementia (onset before age 65): the reduction reaches 40%.
Cycling literally changes the brain
The study doesn’t stop at statistics. Using MRI scans of nearly 45,000 participants, researchers found that cyclists had larger volumes of the hippocampus (the region of the brain that’s critical for memory and learning, and that shrinks first in Alzheimer’s). In other words, cycling doesn’t just protect statistically – it leaves a visible anatomical imprint on the brain.
Why is cycling different from walking?
One of the most interesting findings of the study is that simply walking did not show the same protective effect. The researchers hypothesize that cycling requires higher cognitive engagement (navigation, coordination, reaction to the environment) which may explain its stronger protective effect. The brain works in tandem with the body, and this combination seems to make all the difference.
Cycling and genetic predisposition
The study also looked at the relationship between mode of transport and genetic predisposition to dementia. Those who do not carry the high-risk APOE ε4 gene and cycle benefit the most, with a 26% risk reduction. Even for those who carry the gene, however, the trend remains positive.
What this means in practice
Dementia is one of the biggest nightmares of aging. The global number of sufferers is expected to increase from 55 million today to 139 million by 2050. In this context, a simple, accessible and sustainable way of prevention, such as daily cycling, has enormous public health importance.
The study does not prove causation, and the researchers themselves acknowledge limitations, most notably that it relied on self-reported data on commuting. However, the study’s size, length of follow-up and neuroimaging data make it particularly powerful.
Not a day without pedalling!
The next time you’re wondering whether it’s worth taking your bike for even a short ride, remember: every bike ride is a deposit into an account that pays off later – in your brain, not just your muscles.
And with dementia rates expected to skyrocket in the coming decades, anything that can reduce your risk is worth taking seriously. Especially when that “something” makes you feel like a kid again.
It’s never too late to start – but that doesn’t mean you should put it off! Your future self will thank you for every push on the pedal today.