{"id":11414,"date":"2017-02-13T07:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=11414"},"modified":"2020-10-26T15:27:42","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T20:27:42","slug":"how-to-reduce-dementia-risk-finnish-researchers-say-saunas-may-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2017\/02\/how-to-reduce-dementia-risk-finnish-researchers-say-saunas-may-help\/","title":{"rendered":"How Saunas Could Help Reduce Dementia Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Reduce Dementia Risk: Finnish \"How<\/a>Researchers Say Saunas May Help<\/h1>\n

Does\u00a0regular\u00a0sauna\u00a0use\u00a0reduce\u00a0the\u00a0risk\u00a0of\u00a0dementia?\u00a0For a group of 2300 Finnish men, researchers say, the answer was yes \u2013 as long as they hit the\u00a0sauna\u00a0at least 4 times a week. Here\u2019s what this recent study means for you if you\u2019re looking for ways to reduce your risk of Alzheimer\u2019s and other dementias.<\/p>\n

The Finnish tradition of sauna baths \u2013 relaxing in a small room with dry heat for a few minutes a day \u2013 dates back centuries. Sauna fans around the world claim the practice has health benefits, although it\u2019s not for everyone. Harvard Men\u2019s Health Watch says that people with certain heart conditions or hard-to-control high blood pressure should skip the sauna. For other people, this new study shows there may be a real upside to sauna time.<\/p>\n

More sauna time, lower dementia risk<\/h2>\n

The study followed the men, whose ages ranged from 42 to 60 when the study started, for twenty years. The effect of sauna use on dementia had never been studied before, and researchers were interested in \u201cwhether frequency of sauna bathing is associated with risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease<\/a><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The results were striking. \u201cModerate to high frequency of sauna bathing was associated with lowered risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease\u201d among the men studied. Men who took sauna baths 4 to 7 days per week (for about 15 minutes per session) had a 66% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia than men who took fewer trips to the sauna or didn\u2019t go at all.<\/p>\n

Why saunas may help reduce the risk of dementia<\/h2>\n

The scientists conducting the study previously found that frequent sauna users were less likely to die suddenly from heart problems. Because brain health and heart health<\/a><\/strong> are so closely linked, they suspect the protective effective of sauna baths on memory and cognition may be related to better heart health among regular sauna users. The exact reasons why saunas seem to protect heart health aren\u2019t clear yet, according to researchers.<\/p>\n

Other ways you can lower your dementia risk<\/h2>\n

The sauna study is good news \u2013 if you have access to a sauna (many gyms have them) and don\u2019t have health issues that prevent you from using one. Talk to your doctor before you start a sauna regimen to make sure it\u2019s a good option for you. If it\u2019s not, or if there\u2019s no sauna near you, remember that there are other ways you can lower your risk of Alzheimer<\/a>\u2019s<\/strong> and other dementias:<\/p>\n