Sitting Around Watching TV In Middle Age Can Get You In Later Life

I read this story and thought, "Oh, crap, I am screwed." It turns out that watching too much TV as an adult seemed to be linked to brain health issues later in life compared to people who did not watch as much TV.

We have been concerned for a long about the effects of watching TV on the kids, but this was new to me. The studies have shown people who watched more TV in their 40s, 50s, 60s are seeing more in the way of mental decline and less gray matter in their 70's and 80's. I can tell you many of us that age 40s to 60's group have watched more than our fair share of TV.  

According to the article at livescience.com, the gray matter in our brains is involved in muscle control, vision, hearing, and decision-making…important stuff like that.  

Of course, you do not need to be a scientist to know if you are watching more TV; the odds are high you are more sedentary unless you are watching all the TV while on the treadmill or stationary bike. A sedentary lifestyle is connected to many other physical issues, including one's brain health. Over the last few years, I have been reading that sitting around is just not good for you. 

So when you pair up sitting around not being active with the lack of mental stimulation that generally goes along with watching TV could quietly take its toll on the brain and body.

This sitting around watching TV lifestyle is still being studied, and is the TV component, the sedentary lifestyle, a combination? 

Only time will tell. More studies are needed to say for sure. But less TV time, more physical activities, and more mentally stimulating actives can't hurt.