Study Links Mentally Active Sitting to Lower Dementia Risk

New research indicates that the type of sitting may influence dementia risk. Swedish researchers analyzed data from more than 20,000 adults aged 35 to 64 who were followed for 19 years between 1997 and 2016. Participants reported their sitting habits and physical activity. Dementia diagnoses were identified through Swedish health and death records.

Mentally active sedentary behaviors, such as reading or office work, were associated with a significant reduction in dementia risk compared with mentally passive behaviors like watching television. The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in March.

"While all sitting involves minimal energy expenditure, it may be differentiated by the level of brain activity," said lead researcher Dr. Mats Hallgren of Sweden's Karolinska Institute. "How we use our brains while we are sitting appears to be a crucial determinant of future cognitive functioning and, as we have shown, may predict dementia onset," Hallgren added.

The researchers stated that the findings are likely generalizable to a wider global population and could inform public health guidelines. Sedentary behavior is described as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. The CDC projects that by 2060 nearly 14 million American adults will have Alzheimer's disease.