Brain Health Affected by Extended Periods of Sitting
Many lifestyle diseases are linked to a sedentary lifestyle, but research now shows how it can affect our brains.
People today seem to be more sedentary than in the past. Transportation is easier than ever, many people work in front of a computer all day, and after a long day in the office many enjoy heading home to sit on the sofa and catch up on their favorite Netflix show. Many of us know the health effects associated with a sedentary lifestyle, such as heart disease and diabetes, but are you aware that your brain is also suffering, or rather shrinking. This new study might be the push you need to get up and take a walk around the office every once in a while, or find a new after work hobby to keep active, helping not only our bodies, but also our brain.
Researchers from UCLA asked 35 people ages 45-75 about their activity levels and an average amount of time they spend sitting. They then performed an MRI scan and looked at the medial temporal lobe (MTL), and have found links between being sedentary, and a thinner MTL. MTL can be a precursor to dementia and cognitive decline in an older population. This information could be used to encourage people who are at risk for these disorders to get up more often and avoid staying sedentary for long periods of time. It was also found that high intensity workouts don't necessarily cancel out long periods of inactivity. The study notes this is not mean sitting is a cause for this particular section being thinner, but for now is only an association.
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