A new study finds sitting too much leads to brain shrinkage even if you get the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.
Sitting too long may shrink your brain even if you find the time to exercise.
In a new study, people who spent more time sitting were more likely to experience cognitive decline and brain degeneration … even if they got the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Researchers say these findings suggest sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
Their study included more than 400 adults 50 and older who wore devices that tracked their activity for one week. The participants underwent a series of neuro-psych exams and brain scans over a 7-year period and according to the results, people who were more sedentary experienced faster brain shrinkage and performed worse on memory and information processing tests.
These declines occurred even though 87% of the participants met the CDC’s recommended guidelines for physical activity.
The senior author says, “Our study showed that reducing sitting time could be a promising strategy for preventing neurodegeneration and subsequent cognitive decline.”
Source: Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Author Affiliations: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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