For long-term brain health, older adults perhaps they should carefully consider how they spend their downtime, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of South Australia assessed the 24-hour activity patterns of nearly 400 people over the age of 60.
When it comes to brain health, the study showed that the context or type of activity that individuals engage in is important, SWNS news agency reported.
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Some sedentary behaviors are better for cognitive function from others, according to the findings, which were published in The Journal of Gerontology Series A.
Mentally stimulating behavior, such as readinglistening to music, praying, making and playing a musical instrument – as well as social behavior such as chatting with others – are beneficial for memory and thinking ability, the study points out.
Mentally stimulating behaviors such as reading, listening to music, praying, making and playing musical instruments are beneficial for memory and thinking ability, new research has found. (iStock)
The research team called for “valuable insights” that could help reduce cases of cognitive impairment. More passive activities, such as playing video games or watching television, do not offer the same benefits as reading, prayers and other activitiesthey noted.
More than 55 million people worldwide have dementia, according to World Health Organization estimates. An additional 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year.
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dr. Maddison Mellow, a researcher at the University of South Australia, said that not all sedentary behavior is created equal when it comes to memory and cognitive health.
“Activity context changes the way it relates to cognitive function, with different activities providing different levels of cognitive stimulation and social engagement.” (iStock)
“In this research,” she said, “we found that the context of the activity changes the way it relates to cognitive function, with different activities providing different levels of cognitive stimulation and social engagement.”
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She said scientists “already know that physical activity is a strong protector against dementia risk, and that should be a priority if you’re trying to improve your brain health“, reports SWNS.
“Even small 5-minute changes in timing can help.”
“But until now we haven’t directly investigated whether we can improve our brain health by swapping one sedentary activity for another.”
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She continued, “And while the ‘move more, sit less’ message certainly holds true for cardiometabolic and brain health, our research shows that a more nuanced approach is needed when it comes to the link between sedentary behavior and cognitive function.”
It is wise to “prioritize movement that is pleasant and productive heart rate up,” she also said.
And “even small, 5-minute weather changes can help.”
“A more nuanced approach is needed when dealing with the relationship between sedentary behavior and cognitive function.” (iStock)
A recent study published by the RAND Corporation in California also identified several major predictors that occur around age 60 that are likely to lead to cognitive impairment and dementia in individuals until the age of 80as Fox News Digital previously reported.
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The researchers assessed 181 potential risk factors, including demographics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and health behaviors, health history, psychosocial factors, and more.
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The list of predictors, according to RAND, included “never exercising” and “low engagement in hobbies.”
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The results of the study suggest that “maintaining good physical condition and mental health is beneficial not only for staying fit, but also for maintaining sharpness and delaying cognitive decline,” study co-author Peter Hudomiet, an economist at RAND in California, told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.
