‘I’m A Neurologist \u2014 Here’s Why Dementia Is Rising And How To Reduce Your Risk\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n To gather the findings, Swedish researchers analyzed data from more than 20,000 adults between ages 35 and 64 who were tracked over a 19-year period, between 1997 and 2016, according to a press release.<\/p>\n Participants answered questions about their sitting habits, physical activity<\/a> and other lifestyle behaviors, while dementia diagnoses were identified using Swedish health and death records.<\/p>\n Read On The Fox News App<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Researchers emphasized that how people use their brains while sitting may matter more than previously understood.<\/p>\n (iStock)<\/p>\n Mentally active sedentary behavior was associated with “a significant reduction in dementia risk” compared to more passive sitting activities.<\/p>\n Click Here For More Health Stories<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Although the study was based in Sweden, the release said the findings “are likely generalizable to a wider global population” and could help “inform public health<\/a> guidelines and preventive strategies to reduce dementia.”<\/p>\n In a statement, lead researcher Dr. Mats Hallgren of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute said the study highlighted major distinctions between passive and mentally engaging sedentary habits when it comes to brain health<\/a>.<\/p>\n The research tracked more than 20,000 adults over nearly two decades to examine links between sitting habits and dementia.<\/p>\n “While all sitting involves minimal energy expenditure, it may be differentiated by the level of brain activity,” said Hallgren.<\/p>\n Test Yourself With Our Latest Lifestyle Quiz<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “How we use our brains while we are sitting appears to be a crucial determinant of future cognitive functioning<\/a> and, as we have shown, may predict dementia onset.”<\/p>\n Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Sedentary behavior is a “ubiquitous but modifiable risk factor for many health conditions<\/a>, including dementia,” according to the researcher.<\/p>\n “Our study adds the observation that not all sedentary behaviors are equivalent; some may increase the risk of dementia, while others may be protective,” he added. “It is important to remain physically active<\/a> as we age, but also mentally active \u2014 especially when we are sitting.”<\/p>\n The findings suggest not all sitting behaviors are equal when it comes to protecting long-term brain health.<\/p>\n The CDC projects that by 2060, nearly 14 million American adults<\/a> will have Alzheimer’s disease.<\/p>\n One recent study published by the Alzheimer’s Association found that a person’s biological age<\/a> may be tied to dementia risk.<\/p>\n Click Here To Download The Fox News App<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Researchers also recently found that a higher intake of unprocessed meat may protect against dementia<\/a> in older people who have a variant of a certain gene.<\/p>\n![\"Older](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_fox_news_text_745\/7fa1fac5c952a0daf6eec89d95541025.jpeg\"\/)
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