The harmless habit that may be shrinking the brain

Um study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association concluded that there is a harmless habit that may be shrinking the brain. It's related to watching television and it's something that happens more to middle-aged people. Know what this is about.

According to the investigation, watching television frequently in middle age can lead to later brain changes, such as the brain shrinks or decreases in size. 

Brain: The habit that shrinks

The study revealed that adults who watched television regularly during middle age had smaller brain regions, such as those related to memory. Due to these changes, the risk of stroke, dementia and cognitive decline turned out to be higher.

The University of California team wanted to realize what people were doing besides sitting for a long time, one of the factors often presented to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and other conditions related to brain health.

“We found out what you're doing while you're sitting, and not just for how long, you seem to predict the volume of your brain in 20 years” began by saying Natan Feter, one of the study leaders, to HuffPost. 

Read Also: Caffeine can reduce the impact of obesity on the brain, says study

“Spending more time watching television has been associated with smaller brain volumes in regions especially vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease and greater signs of damage to small blood vessels in the brain,” the expert continued.

How was the study done?

The study analyzed data of about 1,700 adults who were on average 53 years old between 1987 and 1989. Researchers revealed how often they watched television and how long they spent sitting throughout the day. 

After 20 years, people were again submitted to magnetic resonance imaging. Who revealed that never or rarely on television showed differences across the brain when compared to who he said he saw very often.

“ Other common sedentary activities presented the opposite pattern, suggesting that what we do while we are sitting may be even more important than how long we sit”, the expert continued.

The investigator reveals that the act of watching television does not eventually require a cognitive effort as another type of activity that he may be performing when he is seated. “It is also more likely to occur in prolonged and uninterrupted periods of sedentary lifestyle and is usually accompanied by unhealthy behaviors, such as snacks between meals or reduction of social interaction. On the other hand, activities such as reading, computer use or hobbies usually involve greater mental stimulation,” explains Natan Feter.

Your brain needs you to consume these 10 more foods

in feeding that has a great help to strengthen memory and improve cognitive processes. There are foods rich in nutrients that are able to bring various benefits.
 
To Real Simple magazine, dietists Stacey Cleveland, Roxana Ehsani and Michelle Routhenstein reveal a list of foods you should bet on. See what you have to consume more often.

1- Broccoli;

2- Blueberries;

3- pumpkin seed;

4- Fatty fish;

5- Chia seeds;

6- Nuts;

7- Raspberries;

8- Eggs;

9- Black chocolate;

10- Spinach.