Prolonged sitting or lying down could increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease, regardless of how much exercise you do, according to new research.
New findings published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association suggest that being active during leisure time doesn't prevent Alzheimer's if you spend long periods being sedentary.
Experts have traditionally recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise to combat health risks. The study tracked more than 400 adults aged over 50 who were dementia-free.
Participants wore a watch measuring their activity levels for a week, allowing scientists to gauge their average activity.
People with more sedentary time show worse cognitive performance
PEXELSThese results were then compared to cognitive performance tests and brain scans conducted over the following seven years, with nearly nine in 10 participants completing the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
Those with more sedentary time showed worse cognitive performance and greater reduction in hippocampus size, a brain area crucial for memory and learning.
This brain shrinkage occurs naturally with age but accelerates in Alzheimer's patients.
The risk posed by sedentary behaviour was particularly high for individuals with the APOE-e4 gene, a genetic risk factor carried by about one in 50 people.
Lead author Dr Marissa Gogniat said the results demonstrated the importance of avoiding sitting for long periods, even if otherwise fit and active.
"Reducing your risk for Alzheimer's disease is not just about working out once a day," she said.
Professor Angela Jefferson added: "It is critical to our brain health to take breaks from sitting throughout the day and move around to increase our active time."
While the study cannot pinpoint exactly how sitting increases Alzheimer's risk, researchers proposed a theory.
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Ignoring sedentary lifestyle habits could hike the risk of dementia
GETTYBeing sedentary for extended periods may disrupt healthy blood flow to the brain. Over the long term, this disruption could lead to structural changes in the brain that contribute to Alzheimer's development.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia in the UK, with around 944,000 people living with the condition.
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimated the annual cost of dementia to the UK is £42billion, with families bearing the brunt.
These costs are projected to soar to £90 billion in the next 15 years as the population ages. Alzheimer's claimed 74,261 lives in 2022, making it the country's biggest killer.
