A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Southern California and University of Arizona has found a correlation between sedentary lifestyles and an increased risk of developing dementia. The study followed 49,841 older adults in the U.K. who wore wrist devices that measured their movement for 24 hours a day for one week. After six years, 414 of the participants had developed dementia. Of those, 250 spent more than 9.27 waking hours a day sedentary, while 154 spent more than 10.43 waking hours a day sedentary.
The researchers concluded that spending around 10 or more hours a day sedentary is associated with higher rates of dementia. However, they also found that spending less than 10 hours a day sedentary did not increase the risk of dementia. This suggests that as long as individuals keep their sedentary time under 10 hours, they won't see an increased risk of dementia.
Interestingly, the study found no difference between being sedentary for 10 hours consecutively or sporadically throughout the day. This finding provides reassurance to those with office jobs that involve prolonged periods of sitting, as long as they limit their total daily sedentary time.
It's important to note that the study acknowledges the need for further research to definitively determine if sedentary behavior is the cause of the increased dementia risk. The study also identified confounding variables that could have affected the results and highlighted the limitations of using wrist monitors to measure activity levels.
This research adds to a growing body of evidence linking exercise to a reduced risk of dementia. Previous studies have shown that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by approximately 30% and specifically reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by 45%. Other cognitive activities, such as puzzles and games, have also been found to reduce the risk of dementia.
In addition to lifestyle factors, there have been developments in the pharmaceutical space for dementia treatment. A medication called Lecanemab has received approval from the FDA and aims to slow dementia by clearing plaque in the brain. However, some concerns have been raised about the drug's safety.
In conclusion, this study provides further evidence that a sedentary lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of dementia. While more research is needed to establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship, the findings align with previous studies emphasizing the importance of exercise and cognitive activities in reducing the risk of dementia.