Lifestyle habits linked to lower mortality and dementia risks

Recent large-scale studies have highlighted significant lifestyle factors contributing to reduced mortality and disease risk. A meta-analysis of 3.8 million people indicates that dog owners have a 24% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. This is largely attributed to increased physical activity; for example, dog owners are four times more likely to meet recommended weekly activity levels compared to non-owners.

Separately, Finnish population studies suggest that regular sauna use is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. Research involving men who used saunas 4–7 times per week showed a 66% reduction in dementia risk and a 65% reduction in Alzheimer's disease risk compared to those using saunas only once a week. The studies noted that temperatures between 80 and 99 °C were associated with the lowest risk, whereas temperatures exceeding 100 °C were linked to increased risk in certain observations.