In a groundbreaking study published in JAMA, researchers have unveiled a concerning connection between prolonged periods of inactivity and the increased risk of dementia among older adults. Examining data from nearly 50,000 participants aged 60 and above, the study revealed that excessive sedentary behaviour, characterised by minimal physical movement, is significantly associated with a higher incidence of all-cause dementia.
During the study, participants without prior dementia diagnoses wore wrist accelerometers to monitor their activity levels. The findings, although correlational, showed a stark reality: individuals who spent a total of 10 hours or more in sedentary activities throughout the day were at a substantially heightened risk of developing dementia. This risk escalated with prolonged inactivity, reaching alarming levels for those spending 15 hours a day in sedentary behaviours. Astonishingly, these individuals were three times more likely to develop dementia compared to their more active counterparts.
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Crucially, the research emphasised that it was not the frequency of sedentary periods but the total hours of inactivity that played a pivotal role in increasing the risk of dementia. As experts delve deeper into this revelation, it underscores the importance of staying physically active, even in older age, to safeguard brain health and potentially reduce the risk of dementia. Stay tuned for further updates as scientists continue to explore this critical link between movement and cognitive well-being.
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