Sit less to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s

Prolonged sitting or lying down may increase the risk of cognitive decline and brain shrinkage in regions associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease, even among individuals who engage in regular physical exercise, finds a US study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

 

“Reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s disease is not just about working out once a day,” the lead researcher said. “Minimising the time spent sitting, even if you do exercise daily, reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

 

The study tracked 404 adults over age 50 who wore activity monitors continuously for one week. They also underwent cognitive tests and brain scans over a seven-year follow-up period. Most participants met the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week. Yet on average, they spent about 13 hours every day sitting.

 

Those who were more sedentary showed greater memory loss, faster cognitive decline and more pronounced shrinkage in the hippocampus—regardless of exercise levels. The risks were higher for those carrying the APOE-e4 gene variant, a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Previous studies have associated sedentary behaviour with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. This research indicates it may also act as an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s, and that exercise alone might not mitigate this risk. 

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