Study Finds Active Sitting Activities Like Reading May Benefit Brain Health More Than Passive TV Watching
By
mikhael
Hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, baked to perfection. Worth every minute at the bakery.
Summary
A systematic review of 85 studies found that not all sitting is equal when it comes to brain health. 'Active' sedentary activities like playing cards or reading may actually boost brain health, while 'passive' sitting like watching TV is more harmful. The key difference is that active sitting engages the brain cognitively, whereas passive sitting allows both physical and cognitive disengagement.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledExcessive sitting isn't good for a person's physical or mental health, but there's a type of sedentary activity that may not shrink our brains or cost our cognition to the same extent.
A systematic review of 85 studies has now found good reason to differentiate between 'active' sitting, like playing cards or reading, and 'passive' sitting, like watching TV.
The former may actually boost brain health.
That's probably because active sitting engages the brain, whereas passive sitting lets a person take a back seat both physically and cognitively.
You might also wanna read
Creatine supplement shows cognitive benefits: slows early Alzheimer's decline by 30% and improves mental performance, studies find
A comprehensive review (2025) and clinical trial (2026) reveal that creatine, widely used as a muscle-building supplement, also crosses the
thesciverse.org·20h agoJapanese researchers develop vitamin K-like compounds that may help convert brain cells into neurons
Japanese researchers have developed a new family of vitamin K-like molecules that may help immature brain cells transition into neurons. Whi
zmescience.com·1d agoGladstone Scientists Develop New Tool to Map Brain Waste Clearance Mechanisms
Gladstone scientists have developed a new tool to trace how the brain clears waste, revealing surprising new biology about the brain's self-
gladstone.org·2d agoKarolinska Institutet study finds SSRIs affect developing nerve cell metabolism differently
A new study from Karolinska Institutet reveals that different SSRI medications affect metabolic processes in developing nerve cells in disti

Large longitudinal study examines delayed cortical thinning as biomarker for attention problems, highlighting sex differences in youth
This study examines whether delayed age-related cortical thinning is a reliable biomarker for attention problems and ADHD in youth. Using a
Study Shows Unconscious Brain Can Process Language Under Anesthesia
A new study from Baylor College of Medicine challenges the assumption that consciousness is required for the brain to process complex langua
