An office worker usually spends 8-9 hours per day sitting down to complete office tasks. Sitting too much will not only cause soreness and stiffness, but also interfere with the body's metabolism and even affect brain memory performance.

According to a recent study conducted by the University of California - Los Angeles, too much sitting may negatively impact the brain’s region associated with memory functions in adults. The study shows that sitting too much, like smoking, increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and premature death.

The researchers recruited 35 adults from age 45 to 75. They recorded each participant’s physical activity levels and the average number of hours per day he or she spent sitting over the previous week. All participants also underwent a high-resolution MRI scan, which gave a detailed look on their medial temporal lobe (MTL), a brain region involved in the formation of new memories.

The researchers found that sedentary behaviour was a significant predictor of thinning of the MTL and that physical activity, even at high levels, was insufficient to offset the harmful effects of sitting for a long period. The study did not prove that too much sitting thinned the MTL, but instead, the more time spent sitting was associated with thinner MTL. They hope a further research could be conducted to determine if sitting too much indeed causes the thinning of MTL and what other factors might contribute to the process.

According to the researchers, thinning of MTL can also be a precursor to cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s in adults.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Sitting is bad for your brain - not just your metabolism or heart (2018), https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180412141014.htm, (April 19, 2018)