Excessive TV Viewing Linked to Increased Dementia Risk
A new study has revealed that watching excessive amounts of television could significantly increase the risk of developing dementia.
The study, conducted on 400,000 individuals aged 37 to 73 in the United Kingdom, showed that people watching television for more than 5 hours daily had a 44% increased risk of developing dementia, as well as a 12% higher risk of stroke and a 28% higher risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Over the 13-year follow-up period, 5,227 individuals developed dementia, 6,822 experienced a stroke, and 2,308 were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
In a similar vein, a research team from Tianjin Medical University in China found that watching television for over 5 hours daily was associated with reduced gray matter and smaller memory centers, both of which are linked to brain diseases.
The researchers stated that the findings “suggest that watching television for extended periods is linked to an increased risk of developing various brain-related disorders.”
One theory also suggests that sedentary behaviors, with reduced levels of muscle activity and energy expenditure, lead to chronic inflammation and decreased blood flow to the brain.
