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For years, researchers have believed that sitting for long periods of time may increase the risk of dementia – but new findings suggest that the type of sitting may be more important than previously thought.
The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in March, found that replacing sedentary behavior with active mental behavior was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementia.
Sedentary behaviors may include reading, office work and other activities that keep the mind busy while sitting, while sedentary behaviors may include watching television or other less engaging screen activities.
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To gather the findings, Swedish researchers analyzed data from more than 20,000 adults between the ages of 35 and 64 who were tracked over a 19-year period, between 1997 and 2016, according to a press release.
Participants answered questions about their sedentary lifestyle, physical activity and other behaviors, while a diagnosis of dementia was identified using Swedish health and death records.
Researchers have emphasized that the way people use their brains while sitting may be more important than previously understood. (Stock)
Active cognitive sedentary behavior was associated with a “significant reduction in the risk of dementia” compared to more sedentary activities.
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Although the study was based in Sweden, the release said the findings “may be accessible to many people around the world” and could help “inform public health guidelines and preventive strategies to reduce dementia.”
In a statement, the lead researcher Dr. Mats Hallgren of Sweden's Karolinska Institute said the study highlighted a big difference between sedentary and mental habits when it comes to brain health.
The study followed more than 20,000 adults over a period of nearly two decades to examine links between sedentary habits and dementia. (Stock)
“Although all sitting involves minimal energy consumption, it can be divided by the level of brain activity,” says Hallgren.
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“The way we use our brain while sitting appears to be an important determinant of future cognitive function and, as we have shown, may predict the onset of dementia.”
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Sedentary behavior is “a ubiquitous but modifiable risk factor for many health conditions, including dementia,” according to the researcher.
“Our research adds to the idea that not all behaviors are equal; some may increase the risk of dementia, while others may be protective,” he added. “It's important to stay active as we get older, but also mindful – especially when we're sedentary.”
The findings suggest that not all behaviors are equal when it comes to protecting long-term brain health. (Stock)
The CDC projects that by 2060, nearly 14 million American adults will have Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study published by the Alzheimer's Association found that a person's biological age may be tied to the risk of dementia.
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Researchers also recently found that a high intake of unprocessed meat may protect against dementia in elderly people with a certain genetic condition.
