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(Photo by hitesh choudhary via Pexels)<\/p>\n
By Talker<\/p>\n
By Stephen Beech<\/p>\n
Reading or doing a crossword while sitting down help reduce the risk of dementia<\/a>, according to new research.<\/p>\n But couch potatoes who veg out in front of the telly for hours on end actually increase their chances of developing the long term condition, say scientists.<\/p>\n The findings come from a ground-breaking study showing that different forms of sitting down have vastly ranging impacts on dementia<\/a> risk.<\/p>\n Researchers found that activating the brain while seated helps reduce the risk of dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n They say their findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine<\/a>, provide valuable information for formulating future dementia prevention campaigns.<\/p>\n It was previously thought that all forms of seated, or sedentary, behavior were associated with a higher risk of developing dementia.<\/p>\n (Photo by Matthias Zomer via Pexels)<\/p>\n By Talker<\/p>\n However, more recent studies found that “couch potato” mentally passive sedentary behaviors – such as watching telly – increase dementia<\/a> risk.<\/p>\n But mentally active sedentary behavior – such as reading or office work – appeared to be protective.<\/p>\n Most adults spend between nine and 10 hours per day sitting.<\/p>\n Previous research has shown that extended, uninterrupted sitting is a risk factor for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. It has also been associated with dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new study is the first to distinguish between passive and mentally active sitting in association with dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Researchers found that adults who engaged in extended durations of mentally passive sedentary behavior had a higher risk of dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, replacing passive with mentally active sedentary behavior was shown to reduce the risk of dementia onset in later life.<\/p>\n Dementia is the third highest cause of death and the seventh largest cause of disability among older adults worldwide.<\/p>\n (Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels)<\/p>\n Lead investigator Professor Mats Hallgren, of the Karolinska Institute<\/a> in Stockholm, Sweden said: \u201cWhile all sitting involves minimal energy expenditure, it may be differentiated by the level of brain activity.<\/p>\n “How we use our brains while we are sitting appears to be a crucial determinant of future cognitive functioning and, as we have shown, may predict dementia<\/a> onset.\u201d<\/p>\n Researchers analysed data from a study involving more than 20,000 Swedish adults aged 35 to 64 who were followed over 19 years.<\/p>\n The initial survey included questions about sedentary behavior, physical activity, and other behaviors associated with dementia.<\/p>\n Dementia was identified by linking the data of the 1997 survey with the Swedish National Patient Register<\/a> and the Swedish Cause of Death Register<\/a>.<\/p>\n Using various statistical models, the research team examined the associations with dementia of, statistically, substituting passive with mentally active sedentary behaviors.<\/p>\n The findings showed that mentally active sedentary behavior was associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia<\/a> among middle-aged and older adults.<\/p>\n (Photo by kaboompics via Pexels)<\/p>\n By Talker<\/p>\n Increasing time spent in mentally active sedentary behavior was associated with a “significant” reduction in dementia risk while maintaining the levels of passive sedentary behavior, light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.<\/p>\n Replacing the amount of time spent in mentally passive sedentary behavior for equivalent durations of mentally active sedentary behavior was also associated with a reduction in the risk for developing dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Given the extensive survey method used to collect the data – including 3,600 cities and villages across Sweden, the research team believe the findings are likely generalisable to a wider global population.<\/p>\n Hallgren said: \u201cThe prospective study design allowed us to establish the direction of these relationships and infers but does not establish causality.<\/p>\n “Controlled trials are needed to confirm these important observational study findings.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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