Associations between Recreational Screen Time and Brain Health in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Large Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate the associations of recreational screen time with risks of brain-related disorders (dementia, stroke, and Parkinson's disease) and neuroimaging features. DesignProspective cohort study. Setting and ParticipantsA total of 407,792 participants from the UK Biobank who were free of dementia, stroke, or Parkinson's disease at enrollment (2006–2010). MethodsTV viewing and time spent using the computer were self-reported at baseline. Among a subsample of 40,692 participants, neuroimaging features were measured by magnetic resonance imaging in 2014. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models, restricted cubic spline models, and general linear regression models. ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 12.6 years, 5227 incident dementia, 6822 stroke, and 2308 Parkinson's disease cases were identified. Compared with TV viewing >0–1 h/day, watching TV ≥5 h/day was associated with higher risks of dementia [hazard ratio (HR), 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28–1.62], stroke (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01–1.25), and Parkinson's disease (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06–1.54). Moreover, we observed inverse associations between TV viewing time and both gray matter volume and hippocampus volume (Ptrend <.001). However, we did not observe the significant associations between discretional computer use and brain-related disorders or neuroimaging features. Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings suggest that high TV viewing time is associated with increased risk of various brain-related disorders, highlighting recreational TV viewing could have an important impact on brain-related health.