News Briefs: December 2021
Too Much Free Time May Boost Your Stress Levels
Can having too much free time be a bad thing? It turns out that after a certain point, excess free time can lead to more stress and lower subjective well-being. Research published by the American Psychological Association found that while having too little free time can cause distress, more leisure time isn’t always the better alternative. Researchers used data from the 21,736 adults who participated in the American Time Use Survey. As part of the survey, participants provided detailed accounts of how they spent their days, noting the duration of various activities as well as their sense of well-being. The researchers found that as free time increased, so did a sense of well-being. But after two hours or so of free time during the day, the benefits tend to plateau. And by five hours, a sense of well-being begins to decline. The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, also included data from the National Study of the Changing Workforce, which was collected between 1992 and 2008. An analysis of that data also showed a leveling off and then a decline in a sense of well-being as free time accumulated. The researchers included two more sets of surveys, in which they asked participants about how they felt about various amounts of discretionary time during the day. Given the options of 15 minutes, 3.5 hours and seven hours, most people believed 3.5 hours would provide greater enjoyment and satisfaction than the lower or higher options. In a second survey, participants were asked to imagine days with 3.5 or seven hours of free time. Then they were to imagine spending that time either being productive or in unproductive activities. Not surprisingly, engaging in productive activities was strongly associated with greater well-being compared to spending time being unproductive. The researchers advised people to strive for a moderate amount of discretionary time, and if those hours add up, to try to fill at least part of that time with purposeful activities.
Study: Hormone Replacement Therapy Not Associated with Greater Dementia Risk
A study of more than 118,000 women with dementia and nearly 500,000 women matched by age and other factors, but who did not have dementia, found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) did not increase the risk for dementia later in life. The findings held true across all types of HRT treatment (pills, patches, creams, etc.) and were unaffected by dose or duration of treatment. This study, published recently in BMJ, counters the results of some previous research that suggested certain types of HRT were associated with higher risks of developing dementia. Those studies all had various weaknesses, including size, limitations in the range of treatments examined, or other methodological issues. The BMJ study is the largest such study to date and one that provides the most detailed risk estimates, according to the researchers. HRT is used by millions of women around the world to relieve the symptoms of menopause and potentially lower fracture risk, among other benefits. Studies have shown some risks and side effects of HRT, so it’s important to talk with your doctor to determine whether HRT is appropriate for you.
A Happier Early Adulthood May Help Preserve Memory, Thinking Skills
The onset of depression later in life is a well-established risk factor for dementia, but new research suggests that having depressive symptoms at a younger age may contribute to cognitive decline as well. In a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers tracked the trajectory of depressive symptoms and cognitive changes for more than 15,000 adults. The findings revealed that, among older adults, the odds of cognitive impairment were 73 percent higher for those who had elevated depressive symptoms in early adulthood. And, among the study participants who experienced elevated depressive symptoms in later life, the odds of cognitive impairment were 43 percent higher. The researchers also found that, in general, greater depressive symptoms were related to lower cognition and faster rates of decline. One theory is that a prolonged stress response, triggered by depression, can damage the hippocampus, which is the brain region responsible for memory formation and retrieval. The researchers noted that while more research is needed to confirm their findings, the study still underscores the importance of screening individuals who exhibit depressive symptoms and providing treatment if appropriate. MMM
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