Scientists say that watching telly can help reduce dementia risk by as much as 25%.
They suggested that people should do. “intellectual activities”Reading or listening to radio is a great way to reduce your risk of developing the disease.
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Dr Lin Lu of Peking University Hospital reviewed 38 studies of 2 million people to discover who was most likely get dementia.
Exercising was found to reduce risk by 17%, while volunteering and other social activities reduced the risk by 71%.
Dr Lu acknowledged that more research is needed on the effects of TV viewing. Excessive TV viewing has been shown to pose a risk.
Dr Sara Imarisio, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Activities that are mentally challenging, sociable and also enjoyable are likely to be better for the brain than spending time alone.”
Dr Lu added: “Previous studies have shown that leisure activities are associated with various health benefits, such as a lower cancer risk.
“Our research found that activities like making crafts, playing sports or volunteering were linked to a reduced risk of dementia.”