By Wendy Haaf
Time spent sitting after the age of 60 has been linked with dementia risk, but a US study now suggests that it depends on what your brain is doing while you’re sitting.
Researchers analyzed self-reported data from 146,651 people aged 60 or older. Study participants—all of whom were free of dementia when they filled out questionnaires on their sedentary behaviour—were followed for an average of 12 years. Over that period, 3,507 were diagnosed with dementia.
The study’s findings showed that sitting time spent watching TV was linked with an increased risk for dementia—even among those who were very active physically—while using a computer was tied to a decreased risk.
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Photo: Pexels
