Doing This In Your Free Time Can Increase Dementia Risk: 5 Better Alternatives by mindbodygreen

 My TV watching is maybe 2-3 hours a day, after 6-7 hours of computer time keeping this blog going. 

Doing This In Your Free Time Can Increase Dementia Risk: 5 Better Alternatives

Are you a die-hard Bravoholic? On your 12th rewatch of The Office in its entirety? Ever been confronted with your TV streamer's judgmental "Are you still watching?" notice? It's no secret that we're living in the golden age of television, and it's easier to get hooked on the best of old and new than ever. But science may have found a reason to consider pumping the brakes on your TV consumption—even if means trading it in for another form of screentime. The link between TV and computer time and dementia rates For a study published in the journa Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers set out to explore the relationship between sedentary activities and dementia. Namely, they looked at both TV watching and computer use and their correlation to the onset of all-cause dementia.

The bad news? Increased TV watching was related to increased rates of dementia. But interestingly enough, increased computer use was actually observed to decrease dementia rates. This relationship was observed regardless of physical activity level. It's important to note that this research was done on UK biobank participants, with the authors pointing out that the group studied lacked diversity in terms of race and ethnicity. They also note that the study relied on self-reported behaviors, which can always lead to imperfect data. There is no evidence to suggest watching TV in moderation is related to dementia risk. But while the study found compelling data on the overall trends of TV watchers, it does not propose a magic number of TV episodes that should be safe for cognitive health.

If watching TV is something you enjoy, there is no need to give it up cold turkey. But when it comes to TV time, this study suggests that moderation is key for healthy aging. Opt for a handful of shows you really enjoy, and consider swapping out hours of mindless watching for something more mentally stimulating. Here are a few habits to help you maximize leisure time in support of brain health: Go on a walk and put on a podcast or audiobook: Exercise is undeniably great for your health, and it helps protect the brain against cognitive decline. Educational podcasts can also get your mental wheels turning as you move. (Pssstt...if you need a good rec,the mindbodygreen podcast is full of health nuggets.) Pick up a page-turner: A long-standing leisure pastime, reading is a wonderful way to get lost in a story, learn new things, and flex your imagination. Plus, it's got tons of proven health benefits, including improving our memory and brain health as we age. Eat to protect your brain: In addition to spending your leisure time wisely, consider arming your brain with protective foods and supplements. Ingredients like citicoline all have impressive neuroprotective properties. Meditate: If you haven't picked up a meditation practice yet, this might be your sign. Even a short daily practice can work wonders for your brain and overall mental health

Research shows watching TV can reduce heart attack, stroke risks

 Wow, the title doesn't correspond to the article!

Research shows watching TV can reduce heart attack, stroke risks

 dolotop March 25, 2025

Senior couple sitting on sofa while watching television in living room.

Researchers say watching Television (TV) for no more than one hour a day may lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and other blood vessel diseases, otherwise known as Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD).

They say this occurs among people with varying levels of genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes.

This is contained in a report published in the Journal of the American Heart Association entitled: ‘’Genetic Susceptibility to Type 2 Diabetes, Television Viewing, and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk.’’

The researchers, led by Mengyao Wang, were drawn from School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong and Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge.

Experts said that ASCVD is caused by plaque build-up in arterial walls and refers to conditions that include heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral artery disease narrows arteries, reduces blood flow to the arms or legs.

These conditions may lead to severe consequences, such as compromised quality of life, bypass surgeries, stenting procedures (small mesh tube insertion into blocked artery), amputations and premature death.

The researchers found that about 21 per cent of respondents reported watching TV one hour or less a day, while 79 per cent reported two or more hours per day of TV-watching time.

They found that compared to watching TV for one hour or less daily, spending two hours or more daily in front of the TV was associated with a 12 per cent higher risk of ASCVD.

However, this is regardless of genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Their evaluations indicated that participants with medium and high Type 2 diabetes genetic risk did not have higher risk of developing ASCVDs as long as TV viewing was limited to one hour or less daily.

Reacting to the report, Damon Swift said: “these findings add to the evidence that sitting time may represent a potential intervention tool to improve health in people in general and specifically for people with high risk for Type 2 diabetes

“This is especially important because people with Type 2 diabetes are at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease compared to those who do not have diabetes.”

“Targeted interventions could help people who sit for long periods of time in their homes or at their workplaces’’, said Swift.

Swift is the Chair, American Heart Association’s Physical Activity Committee and an Associate Professor at University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The study was based on samples of 346,916 white British individuals from UK biobank.

They had weighted polygenic risk score for Type 2 diabetes, calculated on the basis of 138 genetic variants associated with Type 2 diabetes.

Time spent watching TV among the sample population was self-reported and categorised into less than 1 hour a day and greater than 2 hours a day.

A polygenic risk score tells how somebody’s disease risk compares to others with a different genetic make up.

Meanwhile, Mengyao and the research team acknowledged that the study was limited by some variables, including television viewing time which was based on self‐reported information.

“There is a possibility of reporting bias, such as false reporting or underestimation of television viewing time due to social desirability’’, they said.(NAN)