These days you can't walk into a doctor's office or through the line at the grocery store without seeing a plethora of headlines on how to age like fine wine. While turning to trendy anti-aging creams and magic "brain healing" pills to help stave off cognitive decline and other signs of getting older isn't uncommon, it's important to sift through what can and can't actually help you age gracefully. According to recent research, certain sedentary activities may be more beneficial for brain health than others.
The study, which was published in The Journals of Gerontology, compared how different sedentary activities affect cognitive function. The researchers at the University of South Australia found that activities that were mentally and socially stimulating such as reading or playing cards were beneficial for memory and cognitive abilities while passive pursuits such as watching television can actually be detrimental.
The study included 397 older adults between 60 and 70, none of which had a dementia diagnosis. In the study, participants were asked to self-report their activity and sleep patterns over the past two days using Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adolescents (MARCA)—a computer-based questionnaire originally used on children to measure how they use their time. For the questionnaire, individuals chose between several activities including sleep, chores, screen time, social activity, and quiet time, amongst other things.
Related: This Many Coffees Per Day Could Extend Your Healthy Years, Study Finds
The researchers then utilized a paper-and-pencil-style screening tool that assesses five domains of cognitive function—memory, attention/orientation, language, fluency, and visuospatial ability.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that when the participants engaged in activities that required socializing or exercising or included “quiet time” like reading or listening to music, their scores increased. In comparison, activities such as playing video games or watching television resulted in lower scores.
In addition to the above activities, the National Institute of Aging suggests turning to physical activity to keep your brain in tip-top shape. According to an NIA-funded study of almost 3,000 older adults, healthy lifestyle factors such as regular physical activity and minimal drinking and smoking can have important benefits for an aging brain.
Although the study predominantly relies on self-reported data regarding sedentary activities, it backs up what was previously recognized about brain health—keeping your body and brain in use is key for a healthy mind.
