Reading, doing puzzles while sitting may help offset dementia risk

Key Points:

• A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that mentally active sedentary behaviors, such as reading, solving puzzles, or learning new skills, are linked to a lower risk of dementia, contrasting with mentally passive behaviors like watching TV which may increase risk.
• Researchers analyzed data from over 20,000 adults aged 35 to 64 in Sweden and observed that replacing mentally passive sedentary time with mentally active sedentary activities reduced dementia risk, suggesting a practical approach to mitigating harmful effects of passive sitting.
• Experts emphasize that not all sitting time is equal; mentally engaging activities during sedentary periods can be protective for brain health, and medical counseling should focus on encouraging cognitively stimulating seated activities rather than simply advising people to "sit less."
• Practical recommendations include breaking up long periods of passive sitting with mentally engaging tasks like reading or puzzles, and gradually incorporating these changes into daily routines to support cognitive health and potentially reduce dementia risk.