This Common Habit is “KILLING” Your Brain
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted December 15, 2023
You do IT daily.
In fact, multiple times and maybe for hours at a go.
After all, it’s only natural.
But disturbing new research reveals the longer you do this everyday “activity,” the more your risk for developing dementia rises.
It turns out sitting could be quietly killing your brain.
Scientists have uncovered troubling connections between being sedentary and cognitive decline later in life.
Now, new research reveals that the LESS time you spend moving, the greater your risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s.
The study published in the journal JAMA shows that being more sedentary, like sitting for long periods, raises your risk.
The scientists used step counter (accelerometer) data to discover that folks over 60 who spend more than 10 hours a day being inactive are at a higher risk of dementia compared with those who sit less.
This isn’t the first study to link sedentary behavior and brain health, of course. But, it answered one of the biggest questions that remained.
And that is, “How MUCH sitting (or time being sedentary) is bad?”
- 10 hours daily was associated with an 8 percent increase in dementia risk.
- 12 hours was linked with a 63 percent increase in dementia risk.
Our brains rely on regular movement to function at FULL capacity as we age.
So, for every hour you spend on your couch, you could be chipping away at your mental fitness in the future.
Scientists believe that reductions in brain blood flow might be behind the problem.
Plus, there’s also a well-known link between sitting and heart disease, which likely also plays a role in a higher risk for dementia.
Making an effort to sit less NOW can pay off with a sharper mind in the FUTURE.
The reality is our jobs, volunteer activities, or even watching a favorite show or movie may require us to sit for longer periods. So just be sure to get up and move every half an hour.
If you’re having trouble getting motivated or simply REMEMBERING to get up, a fitness tracker with a built-in movement reminder can help.
Don’t let your desk job or love of the couch today put your cognitive function at risk tomorrow.
And another thing…
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Source:
Cao Z, et Al., “Leucocyte telomere length, brain volume and risk of dementia: a prospective cohort study,” General Psychiatry 2023;36:e101120. doi: 10.1136 /gpsych-2023-101120
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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