Frequent saunas may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, a study suggests.

Sauna therapy developed in the Scandinavian region, specifically Finland, and is practiced frequently as part of the culture there, where it is considered an aid to balancing many health disorders.

Researchers in Finland has studied sauna bathing previously as part of the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD), involving more than 2,000 middle-aged men living in the eastern part of Finland.

Previous results from the KIHD study have shown that frequent sauna bathing also significantly reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death, the risk of death due to coronary artery disease and other cardiac events, as well as overall mortality.

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

The study found that, in a 20-year follow-up, men taking a sauna four-to-seven time a week were 66 percent less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those taking a sauna once a week.

The study also showed the risk of Alzheimer's disease 65 percent lower than among those taking a sauna just once a week.

Sauna bathing may protect both the heart and memory to some extent via similar, still poorly known mechanisms, says Jari Laukkanen, the study leader, "However, it is known that cardiovascular health affects the brain as well. The sense of well-being and relaxation experienced during sauna bathing may also play a role,” he adds of the study, which appears in the Age and Ageing Journal.