Working up a sweat in the sauna ‘lowers your risk of Alzheimer’s disease’
Regularly getting hot and bothered in the sauna was found to slash a man's risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to two thirds
WORKING up a heavy sweat may be the secret to avoiding Alzheimer’s, a study reveals.
It found blokes who have regular saunas slash their risk of the brain-wasting disease by up to two thirds.
Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and Bristol University followed 2,315 middle-aged men over a 20-year period.
And they found a daily spell in a steam room reaching 210F reduced their chances of Alzheimer’s by 65 per cent.
Last year, the same team discovered saunas could also ward off heart attacks.
Dementia is thought to be partly triggered by many of the same risk factors seen in cardiovascular disease – such as high blood pressure and poor circulation.
Saunas are thought to widen blood vessels, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure.
Lead researcher Professor Jari Laukkanen, from the University of Eastern Finland, said: “It is known that cardiovascular health affects the brain as well.
“The sense of well-being and relaxation experienced during sauna bathing may also play a role.”
Saunas are thought to improve circulation and reduce blood pressure, both of which could go some way to reducing your risk of getting dementia
Dr Clare Walton
A sauna – which means "bathhouse" in Finnish - is a small wooden room where wet or dry heat can reach in excess of 200F, or nearly 100 degrees Centigrade.
The study results were published in the journal Age and Ageing.
It shows that while a daily trip slashes dementia risk by two-thirds, even two to three sessions a week cuts it by a fifth.
And previous research found regular visits to the steam room also reduced heart disease by 23 per cent.
Dementia is now Britain’s biggest killer and costs the economy more than cancer and heart disease.
Around 850,000 Brits have dementia – and there is currently no effective treatment.
But current medications can help to slow down the symptoms.
Dr Clare Walton, Research Manager at Alzheimer’s Society said: “Finding ways to reduce the risk of developing the condition is a top priority.
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“Saunas are thought to improve circulation and reduce blood pressure, both of which could go some way to reducing your risk of getting dementia.
“This is the first study to look for a link between using saunas and helping reduce the risk of dementia – it found that Finnish men who visit a sauna more than four times a week were two thirds less likely to develop dementia over the next 20 years.”
Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Although sauna bathing isn’t a common hobby for men in the UK, this study suggests men who use saunas several times a week may also have a lower dementia risk.
“As this study does not look at other groups of people such as women or people who do not use saunas, we don’t know how this risk compares to the general population and or what might be behind it.”
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