A study suggests a sedentary job may provide better cognitive protection than a more physically active role.
Experts have long warned about the potential dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. Many studies suggest that being physically inactive increases the risk of health issues.
However, the connection between being physically active and maintaining cognitive health has been less clear. Now, a new study from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom further emphasizes this uncertainty.
The research has found that people with desk jobs are far less likely to experience cognitive decline than those with physically active roles.
“The often-used mantra ‘what is good for the heart, is good for the brain’ makes complete sense, but the evidence on what we need to do as individuals can be confusing,” says lead author Shabina Hayat.
“With our large cohort of volunteers, we were able to explore the relationship between different types of physical activity in a variety of settings,” she adds.
The research appears in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
The study is based on data from the Epic-Norfolk Cohort, a long-term project involving some 30,000 participants aged 40 to 79. It aims to investigate links between daily activities, diet, and cancer.
Across an average of 12 years, investigators assessed participants’ cognition, including attention, memory, and visual processing speed. Researchers also administered a reading-ability test that roughly captured each individual’s IQ.
Among the data collected was information regarding levels of physical activity during work hours and leisure time. Measurements of an individual’s physical activity in the Cambridge study combined the two.
A total of 8,585 individuals from the Epic-Norfolk study served as the