Excessive scrolling? Exercise to help maintain brain function, experts say

Indonesians are among the world's most active social media users, spending an average of three hours and seven minutes daily scrolling through content. While excessive scrolling can be detrimental, medical experts emphasize that the primary threat to brain health stems from the prolonged sedentary behavior accompanying this activity.

Dr. dr Zaenal Muttaqien Sofro, a physiology lecturer at Gadjah Mada University, explained that the brain requires about 20 percent of the body's total oxygen supply. Maintaining this crucial oxygen flow is key to brain health. As bipedal beings, humans face gravitational challenges that affect blood distribution. Standing up suddenly after lying down can reduce blood flow to the brain by up to 60 percent, requiring the body time to adjust.

To mitigate this, Sofro advises against standing up immediately upon waking. Instead, he suggests a gradual transition: lie on your side for 30 seconds, sit up for another 30 seconds, and then stand slowly while performing heel raises about eight times to help pump blood back to the brain.

Furthermore, prolonged sitting poses a significant risk to cognitive function. Sofro notes that extended periods of sitting cause blood to pool in the lower body due to gravity, leading to suboptimal blood supply to the brain. He recommends limiting sitting time to no more than one hour, followed by a two-minute break for standing, walking, or light stretching.

Sofro's research using orthostatic tests indicates that the body's ability to adapt to positional changes is heavily influenced by the condition of its lower organs, particularly the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. When these fundamental systems function well, brain function remains optimal. Conversely, disruptions in these systems can lead to brain impairment.