This is the first time sitting long hours has been implicated in loss of memory
Being a couch potato is not just bad for your waistline. It may affect your memory too, suggests research by UCLA.
Sitting too much is linked to changes in a section of the brain that is critical for memory, according to a preliminary study by UCLA researchers. The study looked at middle-aged and older adults. The study has appeared in the journal PLOS One. While sitting is traditionally associated with metabolic disorders like diabetes and hypertension consequent cardiovascular diseases, this is the first time it has been associated with age-related mental degeneration and loss of memory. This could also open new vistas in tackling with diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
This study does not prove that too much sitting causes thinner brain structures, but instead that more hours spent sitting are associated with thinner regions
The researchers found that sedentary behavior is a significant predictor of thinning of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) – a brain region involved with the formation of new memory – and that physical activity, even at high levels, is insufficient to offset the harmful effects of sitting for extended periods.
Researchers concluded: “MTL thinning can be a precursor to cognitive decline and dementia in middle-aged and older adults. Reducing sedentary behavior may be a possible target for interventions designed to improve brain health in people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease”.
For the study, 35 people between the ages of 45 and 75 were recruited. They were asked about their physical activity levels and the average number of hours per day they spent sitting over the previous week. Each person had a high-resolution MRI scan, which provided a detailed look at the medial temporal lobe.
This study does not prove that too much sitting causes thinner brain structures, but instead that more hours spent sitting are associated with thinner regions, researchers said. In addition, the researchers focused on the hours spent sitting, but did not ask participants if they took breaks during this time.
