What older adults do when they are sitting affects their Dementia risk

Adults aged 60 and older who sit for long periods watching TV or other such passive, sedentary behaviors may be at increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study by University of Southern California and University of Arizona researchers who analysed 12 years of data on 150,000 people in the UK aged 60 or over.

Their study also showed that the risk is lower for those who kept their brain active while sitting, such as when they read or use computers.

The study was published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It also revealed that this was irrespective of being physically active

“It isn’t the time spent sitting, per se, but the type of sedentary activity performed during leisure time that impacts dementia risk,” said study author David Raichlen, professor of biological sciences and anthropology at the USC.

“We know from past studies that watching TV involves low levels of muscle activity and energy use compared with using a computer or reading,” he said.

“And while research has shown that uninterrupted sitting for long periods is linked with reduced blood flow in the brain, the relatively greater intellectual stimulation that occurs during computer use may counteract the negative effects of sitting.”

“What we do while we’re sitting matters,” Raichlen added. “This knowledge is critical when it comes to designing targeted public health interventions aimed at reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disease from sedentary activities through positive behavior change.”