A study published in the journal „Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association“ showed that adults who reported watching television “very often” in middle age later had smaller brain regions associated with memory. These individuals also had reduced volume and greater white matter brain damage in the frontal and occipital lobes – changes linked to aging, increased stroke risk, cognitive decline, and dementia, according to „Huffington Post“.
Read more Russia «for humanitarian reasons» released a detained former US Marine
Previous studies on sedentary lifestyle and its impact on brain health mainly focused on how much time people spend sitting, said Nathan Feteris – a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC) and one of the authors of this study. For example, a 2023 study at Harvard University showed that physical inactivity lasting 10 or more hours per day is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.
However, N. Feteris and his team wanted to delve deeper. Instead of only assessing how many hours people spend sitting, they aimed to find out whether the activity performed while sitting affects brain health. „We found that the activity while sitting – not just the duration of sitting – seems to predict brain volume after 20 years,“ N. Feteris told „HuffPost“. „Longer time spent watching television was associated with smaller brain volume in areas particularly vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as more pronounced signs of small vessel brain damage.”
In conducting the study, scientists analyzed data from about 1,700 adults participating in the long-term US study „Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities“ (ARIC); at the time of enrollment (1987–1989), their average age was 53 years. Participants reported how often they watched television during leisure time and how much time they spent sitting during the workday.
More than 20 years later, participants underwent brain MRI scans. Compared to those who reported watching television “never” or “rarely,” people who reported watching it “very often” exhibited widespread structural brain changes.
The group that watched television most frequently also had smaller frontal and occipital lobes. The frontal lobes are associated with skills such as planning, decision-making, and other executive functions, while the occipital lobes help the brain process visual information.
Read more Arriving at the new tournament, Edas Butvilas extended his winning streak
These differences remained even after researchers accounted for other factors that could affect brain health, including physical activity, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption. „Other common sedentary activities showed the opposite pattern, suggesting that what we do while sitting may be even more important than how long we sit,“ he explained.
What is it about watching television that harms the brain so much? N. Feteris said their study cannot determine exact causes, but there are several possible explanations. First, watching television is generally a very passive activity requiring relatively little cognitive engagement.
The scientist emphasizes that we often watch television for long periods, sitting uninterrupted, and such activity is often accompanied by unhealthy behaviors, such as snacking or reduced social interaction. „In contrast, activities like reading, using a computer, or hobbies often provide greater mental stimulation,“ the scientist said.
One important limitation is that this was an observational study, so researchers cannot conclude that watching television directly causes these brain changes. Sitting time was also self-reported, said N. Feteris, which may introduce some measurement error.
„I think future studies – using wearable devices, conducting repeated brain scans, and intervention models – will help clarify whether reducing television watching or replacing it with more cognitively stimulating activities can help preserve brain health over time,“ said N. Feteris.
Read more The youth team led by the Jasikevičius and Biržinis duo continues the hunt for medals
