Always in a rush? Experts say being 'time poor' could raise your risk of dementia
Living a busy life has joined smoking, high blood sugar, and air pollution as a key risk factor for developing the devastating disease. A new report, published in medical journal The Lancet, argues that 'temporal inequality'—people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds not having equal amounts of time to those who are financially better off—is an under-recognised threat when it comes to preventing the memory-robbing illness. Dementia is Britain's biggest killer, and there are around 944,000 people in the UK living with the condition, and around 7 million in the US.There are several types of dementia, but the most common is Alzheimer's Disease which affects around six in 10 people diagnosed with the condition.While there is no cure for dementia, early diagnosis allows time for personalised treatment plans to be put in place, and for doctors to prescribe drugs and treatments which can prolong the onset of the disease. However, the researchers argue, not everyone has the time to prioritise their health—including taking the preventative steps to ensure a healthier old age—creating an uneven, and unfair, playing field. The researchers define 'temporal inequity' as having insufficient time for restful sleep, working intense or unsociable hours, having a reliance on screens—the blue light emitted by gadgets has been found to affect the body's internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm—or lack of downtime to relax.They write: 'Time is an under-recognised social determinant of brain health, and is potentially as important as education or income for dementia risk. Dementia is Britain's biggest killer 'The acceleration of life in digitally mediated, productivity-driven cultures has created conditions in which time is relentlessly optimised, fragmented, and commodified.'Despite technological advances that promise efficiency and flexibility, many individuals experience a chronic sense of time poverty, with little discretionary space for rest, reflection, or care.'This paradox of progress has implications for brain health. The constant pressure to perform and always remain active contributes to cognitive overload, sleep disruption, emotional exhaustion, chronic stress, and reduced capacity for renewal. Can't get a GP appointment? Subscribe to join Dr Martin Scurr's live Q&A as he answers YOUR questions 'Simultaneously, the distribution of time is structurally unequal: caregivers, low-wage workers, especially shift workers, and marginalised groups often face the greatest time constraints, deepening existing health inequities.' According to the charity Alzheimer's Society, about 40 per cent of dementia cases may be preventable, and researchers from multiple academic institutes have outlined several ways that people can bolster their brain health. These include keeping the mind active by learning new skills, languages or doing puzzles and games; maintaining an active social life; making time for daily exercise; and eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants. Earlier this month, researchers discovered why obesity may dramatically raise the risk of developing Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. Experts have long warned that obesity increases the risk of serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, as well as cancers, with studies showing it may induce cognitive decline. The degenerative brain disease is currently incurable, but early diagnosis allows for more treatment options
Previously, researchers found moderate-to-vigorous exercise lowers risk of dementia by 41 per cent.US researchers found that greater levels of tiny fat-storing molecules in obese people made them more prone to one toxic protein, amyloid, spreading in the brain. Significant clumps of this protein, as well as another — tau— can form plaques and tangles — and this is thought to be behind the symptoms of Alzheimer's.This is exercise which gets the heart racing and breathing to the point you can still speak but not sing, like brisk walking, jogging or cycling.However, some scientists suggest high intensity workouts (HITT) could be better than cardio for staving off dementia, because they force more blood to the brain.HITT sees people do short bursts of intense exercise with 80 per cent of their effort, followed by a recovery period to allow their heart rate to drop again.Often, they involve quick exercises like burpees, mountain climbers, jump squats, kettlebell swings and treadmill sprints.However, it is best to avoid high-intensity workouts before bedtime, as a study found it reduces sleep, which can increase your risk of dementia.Other researchers have suggested the ideal age to ramp up exercise to prevent dementia is between the ages of 45 and 65.
