Sitting at desk for hours ‘could raise risk of dementia’

♦ Sitting at a desk all day or watching television for hours may damage the brain in a way which could increase the risk of dementia, a study suggests.

Scientists at the University of California recruited 35 people aged between 45 and 65. They found that study participants who reported more sitting had thinner brain structures.

Although the researchers say they cannot be sure that the sedentary behaviour is responsible for the thinning, they are now launching studies to find out if the link is causal.

Thinning of the medial temporal lobe can be an early sign of cognitive decline. The researchers say that moving about may be a good way to prevent dementia. The study was published in the journal PLOS One.