Close X
Monday, March 10, 2025
ADVT 
Health & Fitness

Mentally stimulating down time activities linked to better brain health: study

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Dec, 2024 04:40 PM
  • Mentally stimulating down time activities linked to better brain health: study

Engaging in mentally stimulating activities during down time, such as reading, can be beneficial for brain health, according to an Australian research.

In a new study, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) found that some sedentary, or sitting, activities are better for cognitive function than others.

The researchers assessed the 24-hour activity patterns of 397 adults aged 60 and above, and found that socially or mentally stimulating activities such as reading, playing musical instruments, crafting or talking to others are beneficial for memory and thinking abilities.

Watching television or playing video games was found to be detrimental.

The researchers said the findings could help reduce the risks of cognitive impairment, including from dementia.

"We already know that physical activity is a strong protector against dementia risk, and this should certainly be prioritised if you are trying to improve your brain health. But until now, we hadn't directly explored whether we can benefit our brain health by swapping one sedentary behavior for another," Xinhua news agency quoted Maddison Mellow, a co-author of the study from UniSA, as saying in the report.

She recommended breaking up time spent watching TV or gaming with five-minute bursts of physical activity or more cognitively-engaged seated activity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 55 million people globally have dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed annually.

In Australia, about 411,100 people (or one in every 1000 people) are living with dementia. Nearly two-thirds are women. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 55 million people have dementia with nearly 10 million new cases each year.

And, while the 'move more, sit less' message certainly holds true for cardiometabolic and brain health, the research - conducted by a team of UniSA researchers including Mellow, Prof Dot Dumuid, Dr Alexandra Wade, Prof Tim Olds, Dr Ty Stanford, Prof Hannah Keage, and Associate Prof Ashleigh Smith; with researchers from the University of Leicester, and the University of Newcastle - shows that a more nuanced approach is needed when it comes to thinking about the link between sedentary behaviours and cognitive function.

 

MORE Health & Fitness ARTICLES

What is a Low Sugar Diet ?

What is a Low Sugar Diet ?
According to the studies, your sugar intake should not exceed 5 per cent of your total daily calories. This means that a typical adult's sugar intake should not exceed 30g per day. The most harmful type of sugar is free sugar, which is found in fizzy drinks, fruit juices, biscuits, cakes, and chocolate.

What is a Low Sugar Diet ?

How restorative therapy can unleash your creativity?

How restorative therapy can unleash your creativity?
Those who practise yoga learn to connect with their body, mind, and soul, while those who practise meditation employ breath work to achieve supreme relaxation. Yoga is frequently linked to a steady increase in flexibility and strength, but it's also an excellent way to foster creativity. Yoga aids in the development of creative force, and research are supporting the claims made by practitioners.

How restorative therapy can unleash your creativity?

How do you deal with social anxiety?

How do you deal with social anxiety?
Social anxiety disorder can be a crippling condition that affects every aspect of a person's life. Intense fear, racing heart, sweating, and difficulty speaking are all symptoms. Here are a number of things you can do on your own to help deal with social anxiety. 

How do you deal with social anxiety?

Decoding longevity - the science of graceful and delayed ageing

Decoding longevity - the science of graceful and delayed ageing
Senescence, or just a reduction in our biological activities and also our capacity to adjust under metabolic strain, is due to ageing! It is tough to describe ageing in a single sentence. Ageing entails the loss of abilities, yet it could possess certain advantages.

Decoding longevity - the science of graceful and delayed ageing

Replace high cholesterol items with these five healthy options

Replace high cholesterol items with these five healthy options
A healthy diet should include foods high in soluble fibre, fruits and vegetables, plant-based protein, and whole grains. While there are numerous options that can easily fit the bill, we have narrowed the list down to five items that can easily replace high cholesterol snack options you have grown accustomed to. 

Replace high cholesterol items with these five healthy options

Simple mistakes that can ruin your fat loss journey

Simple mistakes that can ruin your fat loss journey
Following a strict diet, restraining yourself from tempting food, and working out extensively, are all part of it, but even then you may not see the desired results. A nutritionist breaks down simple mistakes that can ruin your fat loss journey. 

Simple mistakes that can ruin your fat loss journey