Research shows home-based caregivers can help cope with dementia

Seniors age 60 and older who engage in long hours of sedentary behavior have a higher risk of dementia. That’s according to a new study by researchers from the University of Southern California and the University of Arizona.

By 2022, approximately 6.5 million people will be living with Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to reach 12.7 million by 2050, according to Alzheimer’s Association statistics. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and includes, among others, atherosclerosis, Lewy body atrophy, and others.

The study uses self-reported data from the UK Biobank, a biomedical database of over 500,000 participants across the UK. The study examines whether there is a link between dementia and sedentary activities. It took into account survey responses from more than 145,000 participants.

A major takeaway from the study’s findings is that caregivers can play a role in protecting the elderly and, in turn, reduce the risk of dementia in the long term.

The study found that older adults who engaged in mental activity while sitting down — such as reading a book — were less likely to forget.

David Reichlen, one of the study’s authors and a professor of biological sciences and anthropology at USC’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, said in a press release:

Reichlen also noted that activities such as watching television involve less muscle activity and energy than being on the computer.

“Although studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time is associated with reduced blood flow to the brain, the relatively greater mental stimulation that occurs during computer use may counteract the negative effects of sitting,” he said.

Another interesting finding was that the association between sedentary behavior and dementia risk was still present in physically active older adults.

“While we know physical activity is good for our brain health, many of us think that if we exercise during the day, we can counteract the negative effects of sitting,” study author Gene Alexander, a professor of psychology at the University of Arizona’s Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, said in a statement. Our findings suggest that sitting down in our leisure time affects our mind differently than when we are physically awake.

Finally, the findings from this study are a reminder to home-based care companies—and their caregivers—to look for opportunities to incorporate mentally engaging activities into their care delivery plans.