Sauna baths frequently may ward-off dementia risk

New Delhi: A new study has revealed that frequent sauna bathing can significantly bring down the risk of dementia, especially in the case of elder men.

In a 20-year follow-up study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland, men taking a sauna four to seven times a week were 66 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those taking a sauna once a week.

The association between sauna bathing and dementia risk has not been previously investigated, researchers said.

The effects of sauna bathing on the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia were studied in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD), involving more than 2,000 middle-aged men living in the eastern part of Finland.

Based on their sauna-bathing habits, the participants were divided into three groups: those taking a sauna once a week, those taking a sauna 2?3 times a week, and those taking a sauna 4?7 times a week.

The more frequently saunas were taken, the lower was the risk of dementia.

(With PTI inputs)