With the number of those who have dementia in one form or another expected to almost triple between 2017 and 2050, the heat is on to find ways to cure, treat, or reduce the risk of dementia in order to eliminate this threat to individual and societal well-being.
As the medical profession scrambles in its search for effective dementia treatments, a new study recently published in Age and Ageing has found that regular visits to the sauna may be beneficial for preventing dementia.
The Study
Conducted by researchers in Finland, the study found that sauna users had a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Using data collected from research centered on the impact of sauna visits on cardiovascular health, the scientists examined the records of over 2300 men between the ages of 42 and 60. The researchers discovered that as the number of regular visits to the sauna increased, the incidence of Alzheimer’s and dementia decreased.
The information was broken into three categories, each defined by the frequency of sauna use – once, two or three times, or four to seven times a week. The results were startling. Those who used the sauna with the greatest frequency, four times or more per week, were reducing the risk of dementia at a rate of two-thirds greater compared to those who used a sauna only once a week. They were also 65 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
These findings provide a double benefit to sauna use, as earlier sauna studies have found that increased visits lower the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. In this research, the benefits to those who visited saunas are believed to derive benefits from increases in heart rate as well as feelings of relaxation and reduced stress levels.
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| With dementia mortality rates rising, finding ways to prevent or slow down the disease is critical. Source: cdc.gov |
While the dementia study has its limitations (no women were included, no comparative data on non-sauna users), and it is not known if any of the participants were taking medications such as Namenda that reduce the risk of dementia, the preliminary results are encouraging.
However, as the authors note, “…Further studies are warranted to establish the potential mechanisms linking sauna bathing and memory diseases."
Even if these early results do not hold up after additional research, the sauna has proven benefits outside of preventing dementia. Regular visits to the sauna are encouraged for relaxation purposes and to give the heart a boost.
