Frequent Saunas and Reduced Dementia
The effects of sauna bathing and the risk of dementia were studied in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD) involving more than 2000 middle-aged men living in the eastern part of Finland.
The study participants were divided into three groups:
- those taking a sauna once a week
- 2-3 times a week and
- 4-7 times a week.
The more frequent sauna takers had a lower risk of dementia
Among those taking a sauna 4-7 times a week, the risk of any form of dementia was 66 percent lower and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease 65 percent lower than those taking a sauna just once a week.
Frequent Saunas and Reduced Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Previous results from the KIHD study have shown that the frequent sauna bathing also significantly reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death, the risk of death due to coronary artery disease and other cardiac events. See Scientific Daily: “Frequent sauna bathing may protect men against dementia, Finnish study suggests”.
According to the Jari Laukkaanen, the study leader, sauna bathing may protect both the heart and memory to some extent via similar, still poorly known mechanisms. “however,” he notes, “it is known that cardiovascular health affects the brain as well. The sense of well-being and relaxation experience during sauna bathing may also play a role.”
Further information:
Please contact:
Jari Laukkanen, jariantero.laukkanen (at) uef.fi, tel. +358 50 5053013
Professor, University of Eastern Finland, Clinical Medicine, Central Finland Central Hospital
Research article:
Sauna bathing is inversely associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged Finnish men. Tanjaniina Laukkanen, Setor Kunutsor, Jussi Kauhanen, Jari Antero Laukkanen. Age and Ageing 2016; 0: 1–5. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afw212