Study suggests dementia risk may be linked to mentally active versus passive sitting habits

Researchers analyzed responses from more than 20,000 Swedish adults about mentally active and mentally passive sedentary activities in 1997 and tracked dementia outcomes nearly two decades later.

A recent study examined whether mentally active versus mentally passive activities while sitting are associated with dementia risk. The research was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Investigators used a baseline questionnaire completed in 1997 and followed participants for nearly two decades to assess incident dementia. The study sample included more than 20,000 adults in Sweden, with most participants reported as women. Key details: - Study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. - More than 20,000 adult participants from Sweden were evaluated, and most were women. - A baseline questionnaire in 1997 recorded mentally passive activities such as watching television and listening to music. - The same questionnaire recorded mentally active sedentary activities such as office work and knitting or sewing. - Participants' light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were also assessed by questionnaire. - Participants were evaluated for incident dementia nearly two decades after the baseline assessment. Summary: The study reports that mentally active versus mentally passive sedentary activities may be associated with later dementia risk. Undetermined at this time.