Study Reveals Certain Sedentary Activities Can Boost Brain Health

Research shows that mentally stimulating and socially engaging activities, like reading or crafting, improve cognitive function, while passive screen time may contribute to cognitive decline.

• University of South Australia researchers studied the daily activity patterns of 397 adults aged 60 and older to understand how sedentary behaviors impact cognitive health.
• Mentally stimulating and socially engaging activities, such as reading, playing music, or chatting with friends, were found to support memory and thinking abilities.
• Passive sedentary activities like watching TV or gaming were linked to negative effects on cognitive function, emphasizing the importance of activity type.
• The study highlights that 45% of dementia cases could potentially be prevented through modifiable lifestyle changes, including activity swaps.
• Experts recommend incorporating physical activity or mentally engaging tasks, even in small increments, to break up extended periods of passive screen time.

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