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At Build to Last 2026, Saint-Gobain Vietnam announced it has achieved “Zero Carbon” manufacturing for its DURAflex fiber cement sheet plant in Quảng Trị, with no carbon emissions for Scope 1 and Scope 2. The company said it is the first in its industry to reach this milestone. The Zero…
Passive mental activities—such as watching television or mindlessly scrolling screens—have been linked to a higher risk of dementia, while more mentally engaging activities, including solving crosswords or drawing, may offer protective effects. The findings come from a study titled “Mentally Active Versus Passive Sedentary Behavior and Risk of Dementia: 19-Year Cohort Study,” published March 25 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Researchers followed more than 20,000 Swedish adults over nearly two decades to examine how different forms of sedentary behavior relate to dementia risk. At baseline, participants aged 35 to 64 reported their daily sitting time and the activities they performed during that period. Over the study period, dementia diagnoses were recorded for 569 cases.
A central result was a clear contrast between passive mental activities and cognitively engaging ones. Participants who spent more time on passive activities had substantially higher dementia risk. By comparison, engaging in seated activities that require thinking was associated with a lower risk.
The study also estimated potential effects under different scenarios:
Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical professor at George Washington University, suggested that the brain needs challenge to remain efficient. Activities that require thinking may help maintain neural connections and build “cognitive reserve,” described as the brain’s capacity to adapt and compensate over time.
When people spend extended periods on activities that require little mental effort, neural pathways may not be sufficiently stimulated. Over months or years, this sustained under-stimulation could contribute to memory decline and reduced thinking ability. Dr. Wen also noted that socially interactive activities—often part of cognitively engaging pursuits—are linked to better cognitive outcomes and lower dementia risk.
The study’s message emphasizes that small daily choices can accumulate meaningful benefits over time. Suggested steps include limiting long stretches of passive behavior and replacing them with activities that exercise the brain.
Examples mentioned include:
Creative hobbies such as knitting, drawing, writing, or playing a musical instrument were also highlighted as activities that can engage multiple brain regions. Even routine tasks can be made more cognitively demanding by adding challenges, such as trying a new recipe or learning a new language. Social engagement can further amplify benefits by adding an interactive component.
Dr. Wen emphasized that small lifestyle changes can cumulatively make a meaningful difference over time, encouraging people to reduce extended passive behavior and, when feasible, substitute mentally stimulating activities.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
