Overview
- The hypothesis argues that upright posture can reduce cerebral blood flow by up to 17%, gradually underperfusing the hypothalamus and brainstem that regulate systemic functions.
- Continue Research reports that brain blood flow declines up to 0.7% per year—about 20–40% from ages 20 to 80—and that low levels are associated with nearly double the risk of all‑cause mortality.
- The group says passive inversion increases brain flow by 20.2% versus 13.3% for active inversions, with six weeks of daily 10‑minute sessions yielding a 7% average increase.
- The findings rely on measurements from a newly built continuous cerebral blood‑flow proxy device and are released as an open‑science hypothesis awaiting independent validation.
- A literature review notes that exercise, sleep, hydration, social connection, and certain foods increase cerebral blood flow, with suggestive cues from inversion postures, inverted animals, and height‑related lifespan patterns.