Watching too much TV increases the risk of dementia, researchers have found.
A study of 400,000 people in the UK found that people who watch more than five hours of TV a day have a 44% higher risk of developing the debilitating disease.
“The results suggest that long hours of television viewing are associated with an increased risk of a range of brain-related disorders,” the study authors wrote.
The researchers analysed data from the UK Biobank project on 407,000 people aged between 37 and 73, 40,000 of whom had undergone brain scans. None of them had been diagnosed with a brain disorder at the start of the study.
During the 13-year follow-up period, 5,227 people developed dementia, 6,822 had a stroke, and 2,308 were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers found that people who watch more than five hours of TV a day have a 44% higher risk of developing dementia (stock image)
Watching more than five hours of TV a day was associated with a reduction in memory centers (File)
Participants watched an average of 2.7 hours of television per day.
People who watched 3 to 5 hours of television had a 15% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those who watched 1 hour or less.
Those who watched more than five hours had a 44% increased risk, a 12% increased risk of stroke, and a 28% increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
No increased risk was found with time spent using a computer, possibly because such screen use is associated with more “mentally challenging behaviour”.
A research team from Tianjin Medical University in China also found that watching more than five hours of television leads to a reduction in grey matter and a shrinkage of memory centres, which can lead to brain diseases.
However, it is unclear what specific effects watching television has.
One theory is that sedentary behavior, with low muscle activity and energy expenditure, leads to chronic inflammation and reduced blood flow to the brain.
Responding to the findings in the Journal of the American College of Medical Directors, James Rowe, professor of cognitive neurology at the University of Cambridge, said: “A few hours doesn’t increase the risk, so after you’ve enjoyed your favourite TV binges, go and do something else.”
How curds reduce joint pain – definitely!
Not only does playing poker or gin rummy keep your mind active, studies have also shown that it can help keep your joints flexible as you age.
These benefits also apply to other games that involve repetitive arm movements, such as chess or mahjong.
Researchers at Shanghai University School of Medicine found that activities such as dealing cards “serve as passive exercise.”
They explained: “These movements help maintain range of motion and lubrication in the shoulder joint.”
Among 8,000 people who took part in a study published in the journal Experimental Gerontology, those who played the games were 40% less likely to suffer from shoulder pain.
