Ahh, is there anything as relaxing as sitting in a steamy sauna? But saunas don't only have relaxation and detoxifying properties. A new study from the University of Eastern Finland suggests regular sauna bathing could even reduce the risk of dementia.
The study, published in Age and Ageing journal, focused on frequent sauna bathing. After following a group of male participants for 20 years, those who took a sauna between four and seven times a week were 66% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia – compared to men who only bathed once a week.
This is the first time the link between sauna bathing and dementia has been explored.
The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD) followed more than 2000 middle-aged men living in the east of Finland.
Interestingly, the more time a week the men had a sauna, the lower their risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.
So how does this happen?
The research team is still investigating that question. But it has been known for some time that regular sauna bathing lowers the risk of cardiac events and heart disease. And researchers believe that saunas guard the heart and memory in the same way. But they don't know exactly how or why that mechanism works.
"However, 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," said lead author Professor Jari Laukkanen.
Originally published on Dec 19, 2016
