BBC: Is your chair making you forgetful?

Today, we're diving into something that might surprise you. Did you know that just sitting too much might actually be bad for your brain?

Even if you exercise regularly!  A new study found that spending too many hours sitting can be harmful- even if you hit the gym every day. 

Before we get into the details, let's kick off with today's quiz question. 

Which part of the brain is imporatnt for memory?

a) The liver   b) The hipocampus   or   c) The shin bone 

We'll give you the answer at the end of the show, so listen carefully!

So, most of us sit a lot- at our desks, in front of the TV, or just scrolling on our phones. 

That's true. But a study that followed people for seven years found that even if they exercised, sitting for long hours was still linked to memory problems and even brain shrinkage. 

Yeah, that's the scary part. You could be hitting the gym every morning, but if you're sitting all day afterward, your brain still suffers. 

Let's talk about that phrase: brain shrinkage. The study showed that too much sitting was linked to this. That means the brain gets smaller, especially in areas that help with memory and thinking. 

And when your brain shrinks, it can be harder to remember things or think clearly. Not good!

The researcher used wristbands to measure movement. These devices were more accurate than just asking people how active they were. 

The participants also took brain scans and memory tests over the years. And here's the kicker- most of them actually met the weekly exercise goals set by health experts. 

But it didn't matter. The people who sat for too long still had more memory loss and smaller brain size. 

So memory loss means you forget things mroe easily. You might forget names, dates, or even where you put your keys. It's one of the first signs that your brain health might not be great. 

And get this- people with a certain gene called APOE-e4, which raises the risk for Alzheimer's, had it even worse. 

But even if you don't have that gene, sitting too much still increases the risk of memory problems. 

Let's take a moment to explain risk. A risk of the chance that something bad might happen. In this case, sitting too much increases the risk of brain problems. 

So what can we do about it? The study gave a few simple tips.

Like using a standing desk, or getting up to stretch or walk every 30 to 60 minutes. 

You can also take walking meetings, or even just walk while you're talking on the phone.

A walking metting is just what it sounds like- you talk about while walking, instead of sitting at a table. It's a great way to move more during the day.

Another easy idea: do light housework or gardening. That counts as movement too!