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The amount of TV watched might be correlated with cognitive decline, but is certainly not the cause. I doubt there is any activity that can accelerate the rate
by subroutine 7y ago
The amount of TV watched might be correlated with cognitive decline, but is certainly not the cause.
I doubt there is any activity that can accelerate the rate of decline apart from the things we put in our bodies (food & drugs). It's better to think of cognitive decline proceeding at some baseline rate and the mental and physical activities we engage in act to buffer this pace. Watching TV happens to be a poor buffer, especially over such long stretches of such passive stimulation (requires little mental or physical exertion). You would get the same low buffer effect staring at a wall, flipping through a picture book, or knitting a scarf for 3.5 hours. This might be obvious but TV isn't causing decline, it's just not helping to prevent it.
- Cougher 7y ago"is certainly not" What do you base your certainty on? It's certainly not fact. "I doubt there is any activity that can accelerate the rate of decline apart from the things we put in our bodies (food & drugs)." You missed oxygenation.
- subroutine 7y agoYes, oxygen goes inside our bodies. Also liquids. I base this certainty partially on my expertise in the field of cognitive decline, but mostly common sense principles. Cognitive decline is a natural part of aging. It happens to everyone regardless of how much TV one watches; even people who watch no TV whatsoever cannot avoid cognitive decline. Thus our best estimate of what causes cognitive decline points towards the aging of the underlying biological apparatus that supports cognition. Furthermore, there are likely to be infants and young children who watch as much TV, and view programming geared towards learning; and as they mature will see gains in cognitive abilities. How is that explained it TV causes cognitive decline.