A new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia has found a significant link between prolonged sedentary time and brain degeneration, cognitive decline, even among physically active individuals. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center analyzed data from 404 participants aged 71, who wore actigraphy devices for 10 days to track their daily activity levels. The results showed that greater sedentary time was associated with faster hippocampal volume shrinkage and declines in naming scores, processing speed scores, and cognitive performance over a 7-year period.
The study found that even among participants who met the CDC guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, prolonged sedentary time was still linked to worse brain health and cognition. Notably, this association persisted regardless of daily exercise amount.
Furthermore, the research suggests that increased sedentary behavior may be especially harmful for individuals carrying the APOE4 allele, which is associated with an increased genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The study also highlights the importance of targeting multiple lifestyle factors in sedentary older adults to reduce cognitive impairment.
The findings have significant implications for the prevention and treatment of age-related cognitive decline and brain degeneration. While more research is needed to confirm these results, this study provides strong evidence that reducing prolonged sedentary time can help mitigate the negative effects on brain health and cognition.
Source: https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/115572