In a nutshell
- Older adults who sat longer each day showed faster brain shrinkage, even if they exercised regularly.
- Sitting time was linked to worse memory and cognitive performance, especially in people with the APOE-ε4 gene.
- Spending less time sitting may protect your brain as much as adding more exercise.
NASHVILLE — Are you reading this while lounging on your couch? You might want to stand up. New research shows that too much sitting could damage your brain, regardless of your exercise habits.
A study spanning seven years found that older adults who spent more hours sitting experienced faster brain shrinkage and mental decline – even among those who regularly worked out.
This finding challenges what many people believe: that regular exercise makes up for hours of sitting. According to the research, most participants were active enough to meet CDC guidelines for weekly physical activity. Yet their sedentary behavior still harmed their brain health.
The Hidden Cost of Being Sedentary
Researchers from Vanderbilt University’s Memory and Alzheimer’s Center followed 404 older adults (average age 71) for seven years, using wrist-worn activity monitors to accurately track movement patterns. On average, participants sat for about 13 hours daily – a number that might seem high until you add up your own sitting time from commuting, desk work, meals, and evening relaxation…