Healthy Aging | Retirefine
Could Regular Sauna Use Help Protect Brain Health?
Could a relaxing sauna routine have benefits for brain health? A Finnish study found a striking connection between frequent sauna use and a lower rate of dementia diagnoses.
What the study found
Researchers recorded the sauna habits of 2,315 men ages 42 to 60 in eastern Finland, then followed their health for a median of 20.7 years. During that period, 204 men were diagnosed with dementia, including 123 with Alzheimer’s disease. Read the study abstract.
Compared with men who used a sauna once a week, men who used one four to seven times a week had a 66% lower measured rate of dementia and a 65% lower measured rate of Alzheimer’s disease after the researchers adjusted for several health factors. Men who used a sauna two or three times a week also had lower estimates, but those results were less certain.
The Retirefine takeaway
This was an observational study only, and researchers called for further studies to understand what might connect sauna use with brain health. For now, the study gives us an interesting lead rather than a proven dementia prevention plan.
If you already enjoy saunas, this research offers one more reason to be curious about their possible health effects. If you have a heart condition or concerns about heat exposure, discuss sauna use with your healthcare professional before making it a frequent routine.
