A Sedentary Lifestyle Can Impair Memory

In general, there are many health benefits to staying physically active, especially in terms of brain structure and function, although researchers are less researching the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle on these specific things. This is because these days, most people lead a sedentary lifestyle, even those who follow an exercise routine.

Some studies have even suggested that a 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 a sedentary lifestyle. Reducing it by 25% can thus prevent more than a million of them.

How is a sedentary lifestyle and cognition related?

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

You have sufficient blood flow for proper brain function as it promotes the development of new neurons and delays deterioration.

While physical activity increases it, a sedentary lifestyle changes glycemic control and thus reduces blood flow. In fact, the studies found that it leads to a decrease in white matter in just five years.

Proof

A recent study led by the University of California , Los Angeles (UCLA), revealed the effects of a sedentary lifestyle in memory-related areas. To do so, they focused not only on the time spent on physical activity, but also on how much time a healthy person spends during a day.

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

In the study, they found that sedentary people had a thinner cerebral cortex in some areas. Thus, the level of physical activity was not too relevant, because it specifically concerned the memory.

Therefore , they suggest that a sedentary lifestyle better predicts performance in these functions. Even if a person has a high level of physical activity, it is still not enough to compensate for the effect of sitting for long periods.

What can you do about it?

Despite these findings, physical exercise is always recommended. In this sense, scientific evidence showed that it improves the performance of cognitive functions, cerebral vascularization and neurogenesis.

In addition, many activities affect performance. For example, reading, learning languages, playing intellectual games, and even interacting with other people. However, professionals recommend maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Try to go to your destination and choose to use the stairs instead of the elevator.

You will improve your chances if you follow this advice. You will also feel better and make the most of your time!