New research has found that there are different types of sitting with varied impacts on health.
Activities such as watching television were linked to worse memory and cognitive skills, while “active sitting” like playing cards or reading correlated with better brain health.
Associate Professor Paul Gardiner from The University of Queensland’s School of Public Health said most people spent many hours sitting so the type of sitting really mattered.
“Health advice could shift from simply saying ‘sit less’ to encouraging more mentally engaging activities while sitting,’’ Dr Gardiner said.
“This could help people make easy, realistic changes that support long‑term brain health and potentially reduce dementia risk.’’
The study examined the impact of passive and active sedentary activities on cognitive function in more than one million middle-aged and older adults from 30 countries.
It found mentally active sedentary activities, including reading, playing card games and puzzles, computer use and driving, could help preserve executive function, memory, and cognitive flexibility.
Researcher Cynthia Chen, who led the study, said the findings did not suggest more sitting, regardless of it being active or passive.
“We know that staying physically active is still essential for overall health,’’ Ms Chen said.
“But when we do spend time sitting, choosing activities that stimulate the mind may offer extra protection for our brain.’’
The research is published in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. It was conducted in collaboration with Western University in London, Canada; Lung Foundation Australia; and Griffith University.
