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Watching a lot of TV may be linked to changes in the brain. New research has found that those who watched TV very often had decreased volumes in several brain regions, including areas important for memory and regions connected to Alzheimer’s disease. These findings raise questions about whether heavy TV viewing could contribute to a higher risk of dementia.
Previous research on the brain has focused on the health effects of prolonged sitting. This study suggests we may also need to consider how that time is spent. Other sedentary behaviors did not produce the same findings, indicating that watching TV may have different effects than other ways of spending time sitting down.
Researchers reviewed data from approximately 1,700 men and women who were 53 years old on average when they entered the ARIC Study. The participants were first enrolled between the years 1987 to 1989 and were assessed again between 2011 and 2013. The researchers examined several measures of brain health, including the size of regions that can lose volume in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease and changes in both the outer and deeper areas of the brain.
Participants rated how frequently they watched tv when they had free time, as well as the amount of their day spent sitting. When they returned for a follow-up brain MRI, researchers found widespread structural differences in the brain. When comparing people who rarely or never watched TV, the participants who watched it frequently had less volume in several areas of the brain, including areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease. They additionally had a greater number of changes in the brain’s white matter, which can be a sign that the brain’s small blood vessels may be damaged.
While more research is needed to understand this complex relationship, the findings could eventually change how we think about sedentary time. Rather than focusing only on getting people to move more, healthcare providers may also encourage patients to limit TV watching and choose activities that keep the brain engaged when they are sitting.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Associations of distinct sedentary behaviors with cortical, subcortical, and white matter hyperintensity volumes: Evidence from the ARIC study
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