A SEDENTARY lifestyle is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing dementia.
But some sedentary behaviours are better for cognitive function than others – that’s according to a new study.
It’s that time of the year when many adults get the chance to sit back and enjoy some well-deserved down time.
But whether you reach for the TV remote, or a favourite book, your choice could have implications for your long-term brain health, say scientists at the University of South Australia.
The researchers assessed the 24-hour activity patterns of 397 people over the age of 60.
They found the context or type of activity that people engage in, matters when it comes to brain health.
And certain activities when sitting down are better for cognitive function than others, according to the findings published in The Journals of Gerontology Series A.
The research team found that social or mentally stimulating sedentary behaviours – such as reading, listening to music, praying, crafting, playing a musical instrument, or chatting with others – are beneficial for memory and thinking abilities.
But watching TV or playing video games are detrimental, according to the study.
The researchers believe that there is likely a “hierarchy” of how sedentary behaviours relate to cognitive function, in that some have positive effects while others have negative effects.
They say it’s a “valuable insight” that could help reduce risks of cognitive impairment, particularly when at least 45 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented through modifiable lifestyle factors.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 55 million people have dementia globally with nearly 10 million new cases each year.
University of South Australia researcher Dr Maddison Mellow says that not all sedentary behaviours are equal when it comes to memory and thinking ability.
She said: “In this research, we found that the context of an activity alters how it relates to cognitive function, with different activities providing varying levels of cognitive stimulation and social engagement.
“We already know that physical activity is a strong protector against dementia risk, and this should certainly be prioritised if you are trying to improve your brain health.
“But until now, we hadn’t directly explored whether we can benefit our brain health by swapping one sedentary behaviour for another.
“We found that sedentary behaviours which promote mental stimulation or social engagement – such as reading or talking with friends – are beneficial for cognitive function, whereas others like watching TV or gaming have a negative effect. So, the type of activity is important.
“And, while the ‘move more, sit less’ message certainly holds true for cardiometabolic and brain health, our research shows that a more nuanced approach is needed when it comes to thinking about the link between sedentary behaviours and cognitive function.”
Dr Mellow added: “To achieve the best brain health and physical health benefits, you should prioritise movement that’s enjoyable and gets the heart rate up, as this has benefits for all aspects of health.
“But even small five-minute time swaps can have benefits.
“So, if you’re dead set on having a movie marathon, try to break up that time with some physical activity or a more cognitively engaged seated activity, like reading, at some point.
“That way you can slowly build up healthier habits.”
Dementia – the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s – comes on slowly over time.
As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe.
But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing.
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
You can refer to these above.
For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, previously told The Sun: “We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them.
“As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door.
“That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age.
“In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house.
“What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn’t belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.”
