Sitting is not necessarily unhealthy: It is good for older people to move their brain while sitting

Fort Collins, Colorado — Sitting is often called “New smoking” By people who promote physical activity all day long. An active lifestyle may be good for you, but research shows that sitting helps when your brain is exercising. Researchers at Colorado State University say older people who sit more and stimulate their brains with mental tasks perform better on cognitive tests than their more active peers.

Aga Burzynska, an assistant professor at the CSU Graduate School of Human Development and Family, said that regular exercise makes people of all ages feel better. Various chronic diseases.. However, for the elderly, the sedentary lifestyle is not always a choice.

Studies have shown that moderate to active activity helps older people speed and remember, but Burzynska finds that the longer you sit, the better your vocabulary and reasoning skills.

“We know that as we get older, people over the age of 60 already show some decline in speed, executive function, and memory, even without cognitive impairment. These declines are complete. Although within normal limits, this study sought to understand how our behavior and habits correlate with cognitive outcomes in the elderly, “explains the researchers. University release..

People are sitting more than they say

The authors of the study measured the daily activity of 228 healthy adults 60 and 80 years old.. Unlike other studies that rely on self-reporting of behavior, researchers used sensors to track sitting and standing to monitor each participant’s daily life.

The group wore sensors on their hips for seven days to help them track when each person began light or intense physical activity.

“We already know that people prefer to overestimate their daily movements and underestimate their sitting time,” Burzynska adds. “If you ask,’How long have you been sitting today?’ If reality is close to 6-8 hours, people will probably say 2-3 hours.”

You can sharpen your brain by sitting and thinking

Researchers tested each elderly person for a series of cognitive problems, including pattern selection, blanking, and shape identification. This helped the CSU team examine both “fluidity” and “crystallization” perceptions.

Fluid skills include speed, memory, problem-solving, and reasoning skills. All of these tend to decrease as we get older. Researchers have also found that these are also skills that are supported by regular physical activity.Engaged senior Moderate to intense exercise On a regular basis, fluid tests showed better performance.

However, the crystallized ability seems to depend on those who are sitting and concentrating. These skills seem to be strengthened as one gains more knowledge and experience. Participants who sat more were able to perform better on tests that measure vocabulary and reading comprehension.

The authors of the study say that these tests show patterns about how the brain works, but they don’t provide a cause. The team theorizes that many of the benefits of sitting come from what older people are doing during this time. Those periods will probably be met by reading, Complete the puzzle, Participation in performances, other educational activities.

“Health and wellness have this great impetus that sitting is always bad for your body and being a couch potato is not good,” says Burzynska. “Our previous studies have shown that the brains of people who sit longer can age faster, but at the cognitive level, sitting time also seems to make sense. is.”

Does staying active really do a lot for older people?

Studies have also found that the average elderly may not be as active as they want. Most participants in the group spent less than 3% of the day on moderate to active activities.

Researchers add that light physical activity, such as washing, cooking, and other chores, had little or no effect on cognitive skills.Although health experts recommend replacing as much sitting time as possible with: Activity as much as possible, This seems to have more body than mind.

“I don’t think I’m going to suggest sitting more, but I try to be as physically active as possible and try to be inspired by the times when I tend to sit. It’s not just staring. Television — That combination may be the best way to take care of your brain, ”CSU concludes.

“For those of us who had limited opportunities to exercise during a pandemic, we hope it sends some positive messages.”

Studies will appear in the journal Psychology and aging..

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