Sedentary Lifestyle Can Accelerate Memory Loss

In general, physical activity has many health benefits, especially when it comes to the structure and function of the brain. Although to a lesser extent, scientists have begun to research the consequences of sedentary lifestyles in these same aspects. This is because many people, despite exercising, lead a sedentary life for the rest of the day.

Some studies even suggest that sedentary lifestyle may be a risk factor for the development of age-related cognitive decline.

They suggest that 13% of Alzheimer’s cases worldwide can be attributed to sedentary lifestyle. Thus, reducing it by 25% could prevent more than a million cases.

How are sedentary lifestyles and cognition related?

In cognitive decline, atrophy occurs in an area of ​​the brain called the middle temporal lobe, which is associated with impaired memory and Alzheimer’s disease. Thus,  in many studies, researchers have observed that physical activity affects the state of this region, especially the hippocampus.

It is essential for proper brain function that you have adequate blood flow, which promotes the development of new neurons and delays deterioration.

While the physical activity increases, the sedentary lifestyle changes glycemic control and therefore decreases blood flow. In fact, studies have found that in just 5 years it leads to a decrease in the amount of white matter.

Evidence

A recent study led by the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) studied the effects of physical inactivity in memory-related areas. To do this, the researchers focused not only on the time spent in physical activity, but also on the amount of time a healthy person spends sitting.

For this research, they evaluated 49 healthy people with an average age of 60 years. After completing a series of questionnaires about their level of physical activity and hours spent sitting, they underwent an MRI scan and neuropsychological tests. With this, the researchers looked at the thickness of the cerebral cortex and the performance of cognitive functions, such as memory.

In the study, they found that the sedentary people had a thinner cortex in some areas specifically related to memory.

Therefore, they suggest that sedentary lifestyle predicts performance in these functions more accurately than exercise. Thus, even a high level of physical activity is not enough to offset the effect of sitting  for long periods of time.

What to do about it?

Despite these findings, exercise is always recommended. Scientific evidence shows that it improves the performance of cognitive functions, cerebral vascularization and neurogenesis.

Furthermore, many activities affect cognitive performance, such as reading, learning languages, playing intellectual games and even interacting with other people. However, professionals recommend maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Try to walk to your destination and choose stairs over elevator whenever possible.

By following this advice, you will not only improve your skills, but you will also feel better and make the most of your time!