Do You Keep Forgetting Things? You May Be Sitting Too Much

A new study has linked sitting too much to a poor memory and higher dementia risk. The latest research confirms a plethora of previous studies that have found associations between prolonged sitting and poor health.

The latest research suggests that sitting too much might negatively impact that part of the brain which enables us to recall things. The findings appeared this week in the journal PLOS ONE.

• A group of scientists at the University of California found that being physically active can improve brain health and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
• The link has been proven time and time again in past studies.
• Nevertheless, very few studies have studied the influence of a sedentary lifestyle on brain health.

The latest research involved 35 middle-aged and older participants. The youngest participant was aged 45, while the oldest was 75. Volunteers agreed to answer questions about how much they exercised and about the time spent sitting on a weekly basis.

Researchers used brain scans to assess participants’ dementia risk and explore that area of the brain critical for the memory, aka the medial temporal lobe.

The Study

The scans revealed that participant who spent more time sitting had a thinner MTL and lesser gray matter in the area. Exercise was tied to a healthier MTL and more gray area.

Thus, the finding that more sedentary time is associated with less thickness in MTL is clinically relevant,

researchers said.

The team is confident that the findigns could be put to use to improve brain health in late adulthood. Past research has tied a thinning MTL to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Study authors recommend sedentary office workers to perform “deskercises” to prevent a sedentary lifestyle and the negative health outcomes tied to it.
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