Too Much TV Could Be Bad For Our Brain In The Long Run

If there is one thing that many of us love more than most things, it’s settling down in front of a screen at the end of a long day. From watching a movie to sitting back and watching our favorite Tv show on repeat, there are so many ways we can pass hours each day in front of the screen if we have the time.

Sadly, it turns out that too much TV could be bad for our brain in the long run. While that might not be the news that many of us want to hear, there are several other ways we might be able to spend our days instead.

A reduction in gray matter

It turns out that too much TV could be bad for our brain in the long run due to a reduction in gray matter. This is the stuff that controls many of our brain’s functions, including decision-making, hearing, vision, and muscle control. Having more gray matter has often been linked to better cognitive skills as well as ensuring our brain has everything it needs to stay as healthy as possible.

Performing their studies

People have been studying the effects of too much TV on the brain for many years, with some research going all the way back to the 1980s. People were asked to rate how much TV they watched each day, ranging from “never or seldom” all the way to “often/very often.” People were asked to continue with their usual routines all the way until 2011 - 2013, when they were brought in for several brain scans. They were also tested on brain processing speed, language, and memory.

How much TV is too much?

Let’s go for a simple one: how much is too much TV? There might not be an official answer to the question, but a study shows that each hour of watching the small screen can reduce the amount of gray matter in our brain by up to 0.5% in 20 years. Although it might not sound like much, this can all add up in the end - and have a significant effect on our brain health.

A link to a sedentary lifestyle

Another thing that worries researchers when it comes to the amount of TV we watch each day is how it’s linked to a sedentary lifestyle. More of us are working at desks all day before moving straight to the couch for a night in front of the screen. All of this means we’re not moving enough, something that could have plenty of effects on our brain - and the rest of our body - in the long run.

Future studies are needed

While there have been several links made between too much TV and brain health, it seems that more studies are needed to determine precisely what it is that’s causing our minds to lose gray matter. Is it the fact we’re living sedentary lifestyles? Is there something about watching the small screen that is physically changing our brains? The paving blocks are there. Now, we just need to look into the why behind the questions researchers have been trying to answer for years.

Unfortunately, too much TV could be bad for our brain in the long run. That doesn’t mean we have to give up our favorite Tv shows. For now, researchers think a combination of a varied lifestyle - including plenty of movement - is the best way forward.