Medical Xpress January 19, 2026
Passive activities such as watching television have been linked to worse memory and cognitive skills, while ‘active sitting’ like playing cards or reading correlate with better brain health, researchers have found.
Associate Professor Paul Gardiner from The University of Queensland’s School of Public Health said the findings could be used to refine public health guidelines and improve cognitive health in aging populations.
“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, one of the largest and most detailed reviews to date, examined the impact of passive and active sedentary...
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