In a study published by JAMA psychiatry, researchers took a look over a 25-year period at childhood television viewing and physical activity habits as it is related to cognitive function later in life. The study evaluated 3,247 participants with a diverse demographic.
The researchers found that compared to those with low-TV viewing, the participants with high-TV viewing were more likely to have poor cognitive function, adjusted for all the relevant factors. Low physical activity was significantly associated with Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).
The most unhealthy group (low physical activity and high television viewing) were twice as likely to do poorly on the tests as the healthiest group (high physical activity and low television viewing).
The results of the study are that high television viewing and low physical performance in early adulthood were associated with worse midlife executive function and processing speed.
http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2471270
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.