We all know that being sedentary isn’t good for us, but recent studies have shown that it also puts you at increased risk for dementia. Even for people who exercise regularly, sitting for extended periods can increase dementia risk.
We’ve known for a while that extended periods of sitting can lead to increased risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and a host of other illnesses, but until now the risks to the brain were less clear. A recent UK study found a high correlation between sitting for more than 10 hours a day and risk for developing dementia later in life. The risks are even higher for those who sit 12 or more hours a day.
“Sitting in the office all day, then in front of the TV and in the car and all the other ways we find to sit, it adds up,” said David Raichlen, a professor of biological sciences and anthropology at the University of Southern California, who led the new study. “These extreme levels of sedentary behavior are where we see a much higher risk” for cognitive and memory decline.
While we should still make time to exercise and to take regular breaks to stand and move around, it is still better in the long run to spend way less time sitting than most of us currently do. Raichlen said that people who sat fewer than 9.5 hours a day had zero increased risk of developing dementia.
If your job requires a lot of desk time, look for opportunities during the day to be in motion. Take a walk around the office or head outside and walk when you have to take a call. Schedule walking meetings. Pick up your lunch instead of having it delivered, even better: walk to lunch! Find more reasons to move and fewer reasons to sit. Try to keep track of how many hours you’re spending stationary. If you’re hitting more than 10, it’s time to reassess your day.
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