What older adults do while they sit affects dementia risk, study finds

What older adults do while they sit affects dementia risk, study findsResearchers explored the link between sedentary behavior and risk of dementia and found that type of activity matters when it comes to brain aging. University Communications and University of Southern California TodayTV.jpg Older adults who spend a lot of time watching TV might have an increased risk of developing dementia.HealthExpertsExplorationResearch Media contact(s)Alexis Blue Director of News Content and Communications, University Communicationsablue@arizona.edu520-626-4386 Researcher contact(s)Gene Alexander Department of Psychologygene.alexander@arizona.edu520-626-1704Adults ages 60 and older who sit for long periods watching TV or engaging in other passive, sedentary behaviors may be at increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study by University of Arizona and University of Southern California researchers.The study also showed that the risk is lower for those who are more active while sitting – engaging in behaviors like reading or using computers.The study was published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." It isn ' t the time spent sitting, per se, but the type of sedentary activity performed during leisure time that impacts dementia risk, " said lead study author David Raichlen, who was previously on the UArizona faculty and is now a professor of biological sciences and anthropology at USC." We know from past studies that watching...
Source: The University of Arizona: Health - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Source Type: research