Watching too much TV can increase your risk of developing dementia, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and depression BUT using your computer for limited times a day (not work-related) may lower your risk for dementia.
One study observed almost 500,000 people ages 39-72 over four years. During that time about 6000 people were diagnosed with dementia, 3000 with PD, 1200 with dementia and depression, and about 500 with PD and depression. Excessive time of TV watching was defined as 4 or more hours per day. People who spent this amount of time in front of the TV had a 28% higher risk of dementia, 35% higher risk for depression, and 16% higher risk of PD.
On the other hand, there seemed to be a protective benefit of using the computer 30-60 minutes a day for non-work-related activity. Participants in the study who reported the lowest time on the computer had a somewhat higher risk of dementia, PD, and depression.
The exact cause of the increased risk of excessive TV use is not clear. Some believe it may be related to a lack of activity, as sedentary behavior may cause or exacerbate the neuroinflammation associated with dementia.
While there are exciting advances in the diagnosis and treatment emerging almost daily, the best approach an individual can take is to modify their behavior to reduce behaviors shown to increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders.
BeCareLink can help you monitor your cognitive health and screen you for signs of PD, depression, and other neurologic disorders.
Reference: https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-023-01531-0#auth-Juanjuan-Zhang-Aff1-Aff2
Well-researched and thought-provoking.