To explore this connection, researchers asked 404 participants to wear activity-monitoring devices — similar to smartwatches — for one full week. These devices continuously recorded the participants’ movements and time spent sedentary
A new study has found a strong link between prolonged sitting and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, even in people who exercise regularly. The research, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, underscores the importance of reducing sedentary time throughout the day — not just squeezing in a daily workout.
Conducted by scientists from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the University of Pittsburgh, the study tracked the lifestyles of over 400 adults aged 50 and above, examining the connection between how much time they spent sitting and the health of their brains over a seven-year period.
“Reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s disease is not just about working out once a day,” said Marissa Gogniat, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh. “Minimising the time spent sitting, even if you do exercise daily, reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”
To explore this connection, researchers asked 404 participants to wear activity-monitoring devices — similar to smartwatches — for one full week. These devices continuously recorded the participants’ movements and time spent sedentary. The data was then correlated with cognitive performance tests and MRI scans conducted over a seven-year follow-up period.
The findings revealed that people who spent more time sitting or lying down experienced greater brain shrinkage and cognitive decline than their more active counterparts. These effects were observed regardless of how much traditional exercise they performed.
The study also found that individuals with the APOE-e4 allele — a genetic variant known to significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer’s — were more vulnerable to the effects of sedentary behaviour. This suggests that reducing sitting time could be even more critical for older adults who carry genetic risk factors for the disease.
Angela Jefferson, Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt, emphasised the broader implications of the findings. “This research highlights the importance of reducing sitting time, particularly among ageing adults at increased genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. It is critical to our brain health to take breaks from sitting throughout the day and move around to increase our active time.”
Unlike traditional advice that focuses primarily on daily exercise routines, this study shifts attention to the many hours people spend being inactive — especially those in desk jobs or sedentary lifestyles. Researchers say it’s not just about gym time; it’s about staying active throughout the day with small but consistent movement.
For example, standing up and stretching every 30 minutes, taking short walks, or incorporating brief bursts of activity like climbing stairs or walking during phone calls could all contribute to improved brain health.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behaviour. While genetics and age remain major risk factors, lifestyle interventions are becoming increasingly central in prevention efforts.
This research adds to a growing body of evidence that lifestyle — especially physical activity — plays a pivotal role in brain ageing and neurodegeneration. As scientists continue to search for effective prevention strategies, moving more and sitting less could be among the simplest and most accessible tools in our collective fight against Alzheimer’s.
