Study of 1,700 Adults Links Heavy Midlife TV Watching to Smaller Brain Volumes
Updated
Updated · VICE · Aug 21
Study of 1,700 Adults Links Heavy Midlife TV Watching to Smaller Brain Volumes
3 articles · Updated · VICE · Aug 21
Summary
More than 20 years of follow-up in about 1,700 adults found that people who watched TV “very often” in midlife later showed smaller volumes in brain regions tied to memory and Alzheimer’s disease.
The same group also had more white matter hyperintensities—markers of damage to the brain’s wiring linked to cognitive decline—while people who sat a lot at work showed larger volumes in some regions and less damage.
Researchers said the association held after accounting for exercise, diabetes, smoking, alcohol use and body weight, and it appeared stronger in men.
The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, was observational, relied on recalled TV habits and lacked baseline brain scans, so it shows a link rather than proving TV watching caused the changes.