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Published on: September 18, 2021
Cognitive activities delay onset of memory decline in persons who develop dementia
C B Hall1, R B Lipton, M Sliwinski
1Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, and Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461, USA. chall@aecom.yu.edu
Neurology
|August 5, 2009
Summary
Engaging in mentally stimulating activities later in life can delay the onset of accelerated memory decline, independent of education. This highlights the role of cognitive reserve in dementia prevention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Dementia onset is preceded by accelerated cognitive decline, especially in memory.
- Cognitive reserve, influenced by early education and late-life activities, may delay dementia's preclinical stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cognitively stimulating leisure activities on the onset of accelerated memory decline.
- To assess the role of cognitive reserve in delaying preclinical dementia.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 488 cognitively intact older adults (Bronx Aging Study).
- Epidemiologic, clinical, and cognitive assessments every 12-18 months.
- Change point model used to analyze memory decline in 101 individuals with incident dementia.
Main Results:
- Each day of cognitive activity at baseline delayed accelerated memory decline by 0.18 years.
- Higher baseline cognitive activity correlated with faster memory decline post-onset.
- Education did not significantly improve the model beyond cognitive activity's effect.
Conclusions:
- Late-life cognitive activities contribute to cognitive reserve independently of education.
- Early education's impact on cognitive reserve might be mediated by later cognitive engagement.
- Further research is needed to explore increasing cognitive activities for dementia prevention.
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