Lying Down at Home All Day Is Dangerous... Dementia Risk Increases Without 'This'

People Without Hobbies Face Higher Dementia Risk
Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyle Also Identified

A new study has found that people without hobbies are at a higher risk of developing dementia.

Knitting. Pixabay

On the 4th (local time), the UK Daily Mail reported that researchers from a nonprofit research institute in California, USA, analyzed data from over 20,000 elderly people since 1992 and found that those without hobbies, those who do not exercise regularly, and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop dementia after the age of 60. The same results were observed even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors.

The researchers first explained that people "without hobbies" have a higher probability of developing dementia. The study showed that hobbies not only help people feel a sense of purpose in life but also literally help train the brain. The researchers added that the most popular hobbies included ▲chess ▲word games ▲gardening ▲car maintenance ▲clothing making.

Next, people who do not exercise regularly were identified. The Alzheimer's Association stated that blood flow to the brain, which supplies essential nutrients important for cognition, health, and memory, is beneficial for long-term brain health. Additionally, obese individuals often have blood flow problems, which may increase the risk of dementia. Some studies have revealed that obesity causes chronic inflammation, which can lead to long-term brain damage.

Lastly, the researchers pointed out that especially for those over 60 years old, a habit of living a sedentary lifestyle is one of the factors that increase the likelihood of developing dementia.

Peter Hudomiet, an economist who conducted the study, said, "This research provides additional information on what kind of lifestyle one should have to maintain brain health throughout life," adding, "Smoking, cholesterol levels, flu vaccination status, and X-ray examinations did not have a significant impact on dementia." He further explained that regarding drinking habits, people who drank alcohol moderately had a lower risk of dementia, while those who did not drink at all or drank excessively showed a higher risk of dementia.

Meanwhile, the number of dementia patients in South Korea has been steadily increasing every year. The Central Dementia Center reported that the number of dementia patients aged 65 and older was 625,259 in 2015 but increased to 984,602 last year. The dementia prevalence rate, which refers to the number of dementia patients per 100 elderly people, rose from 9.54% in 2015 to 10.41% last year for those aged 65 and older. Experts emphasize that early detection of dementia through regular check-ups can prevent symptom worsening and improve the condition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.