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Prolonged sitting or lying down might elevate your chances of developing certain risks. Alzheimer's even with however much exercise you manage to get altogether, a study indicates.
Specialists have frequently suggested getting 150 minutes of weekly physical activity to aid in reducing the health hazards associated with sedentary work at desks and leisurely TV viewing during evenings.
However, recent findings from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville indicate that staying active during free time does not aid in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers discovered that irrespective of how much exercise a person engaged in, those who spent extended durations sitting or lying down each day scored lower on cognition tests and exhibited brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer's disease.
The research, which appeared in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, followed over 400 individuals older than 50 years.
The individuals, initially free from dementia at the beginning of the research, wore an activity-tracking watch for one week to monitor their movement levels.
Researchers utilized this method to determine their average level of activity and restfulness.
These findings were later contrasted with cognitive test performances and brain scans carried out over the subsequent seven-year period.
The findings showed that individuals spending longer periods being inactive were more prone to experiencing Alzheimer's symptoms, irrespective of their exercise levels.
They also observed a more significant decrease in the volume of their hippocampus, which is a critical section of the brain for memory and learning.
As this region typically diminishes over time due to aging, the reduction occurs more rapidly in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
Despite nearly nine out of ten participants achieving the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week, these outcomes were still noted.
Notably, researchers discovered that the danger associated with being inactive was especially pronounced among individuals carrying the APOE-e4 gene, which is known as a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
APOE-e4 is carried by approximately one out of every 50 individuals, which includes celebrities such as an actor from the movie "Avengers." Chris Hemsworth , and has been associated with up to a tenfold higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The authors recommended that individuals carrying the APOE-e4 gene might consider taking additional steps to decrease their inactive periods.
Marissa Gogniat, a neurology specialist who led the study, stated that the findings highlighted the significance of not remaining seated for extended durations, regardless of whether one maintains good fitness levels through regular activity.
'Simply exercising every day isn’t enough to lower your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease,' she stated.
'Reducing the amount of time you spend seated, despite exercising regularly every day, decreases the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease.'
Professor Angela Jefferson, a co-author and specialist in neurology, commented: "This study underscores the significance of cutting down sedentary behavior, especially for older individuals who have an elevated genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease."
'Our brain health heavily relies on taking intervals away from sitting during the day and getting up to boost our activity levels.'
Although the research can't precisely determine how increased sedentary time elevates the risk of Alzheimer's, they proposed a hypothesis.
Spending extended durations inactive might interfere with the smooth circulation of blood to the brain, and over time, this could result in alterations within the organ that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease.
In the UK, Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia.
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society calculated that the total yearly expense of dementia in the UK amounts to £42 billion, with much of this burden being shouldered by families.
As the population ages, these expenses—which encompass the lost income of unpaid caregivers—are projected to skyrocket to £90 billion over the coming 15 years.
It is estimated that approximately 944,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, whereas the number may be close to 7 million in the United States.
Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be caused by a harmful accumulation of proteins in the brain. These proteins cluster and form plaques and tangles, making it more difficult for the brain to function correctly.
In time, the brain finds it hard to handle this harm, leading to the emergence of dementia symptoms.
Issues with memory, challenges in thought processes and logical reasoning, along with troubles related to language, often appear as initial signs of this condition before progressively deteriorating.
An analysis by Alzheimer's Research UK revealed that 74,261 individuals passed away due to dementia in 2022, up from 69,178 deaths recorded the previous year, making it the leading cause of death in the country.
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