Camilla Jessen
You might exercise regularly, but one overlooked habit could still quietly sabotage your brain health — and it’s more common than you think.
You may think you’re doing the right thing for your body, but one habit can quietly destroy your brain—without you even realizing it.
Many people believe that regular exercise is enough to ensure good health. And yes, exercise has many benefits.
But new research shows that one particular habit can undermine all your efforts.
No matter how much you run, cycle, or play tennis, you are not necessarily on safe ground.
A new report from Vanderbilt University’s Memory and Alzheimer’s Center has revealed something disturbing.
The researchers have been following the activity levels of men and women for seven years and comparing them with changes in brain size. The results point in one direction.
The Brain’s Worst Enemy
What surprised the researchers most was how harmful it is to sit still for long periods of time.
Sedentary behavior was found to have a significantly negative effect on brain volume—even in people who were physically active at other times.
This means that you won’t necessarily protect your brain by exercising three times a week if you also sit down most of the day.
According to the researchers, it is particularly the areas of the brain that control memory and are associated with Alzheimer’s that are affected.
“It is crucial for our brain health that we take breaks from sitting during the day and move to increase total active time,” the researchers said in a press release.
And the effect is even clearer in people with a genetic risk of Alzheimer’s.
So Little Is Needed
Fortunately, the solution is simple. You don’t have to change your entire lifestyle—just introduce small breaks during the day where you get up and move around a bit.
It could be a short walk, some light stretching, or simply standing up and moving around.
The researchers state that it’s not about intense exercise, but about frequent interruptions to your sedentary time.
A habit that many overlook—but one that can have major consequences for brain health.
The article is based on information from BT and News.vumc.org.
