In the U.S., many Americans use a sauna only occasionally, perhaps while at the gym or on vacation — if at all. In Finland, in contrast, 99 percent of Finns take at least one sauna a week,¹ and some far more often than that.

Known as a "poor man's pharmacy," Finns value saunas for stress relief, above all else, but the simple act of sitting quietly in a heated room, with or without steam (or as it's known in Finland, löyly), offers proven health benefits that virtually everyone can enjoy, including a boost to brain health.

Not surprisingly, much of the research on saunas' health benefits comes from Finland, a country with about 5.5 million people and 3.3 million saunas (they're as common as television sets).²

There, saunas are commonly found in private homes, offices and even factories, and regular use is an integral part of Finnish life. According to the Harvard Health Blog:³

"Saunas are accessible to Finns of every walk of life … [and] the very nature of the Finnish sauna is designed to reduce stress. The sauna has been a gathering place for family and friends for centuries.

And sauna etiquette, which frowns upon swearing or discussing controversial topics while bathing, is instilled in Finns during childhood."

Sauna Use May Lower Your Risk of Dementia

In an age when Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.,⁴ simple tools to help with prevention are crucial. Sauna use, it turns out, may be one such option.

Finnish researchers evaluated medical records from more than 2,300 men who were part of the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease (KIHD) study, tracking their health for an average of 20 years.

Men who used the sauna four to seven times a week had a 66 percent lower risk for dementia, and a 65 percent lower risk for Alzheimer's disease, compared to men who used the sauna once a week.⁵ The average length of each sauna was about 15 minutes.