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Leisure activity associated with cognitive ability level, but not cognitive change
Alan J Gow1, Kirsten Avlund2, Erik L Mortensen3
1Department of Psychology, School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, UK ; Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark ; Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark.
Frontiers in Psychology
|October 30, 2014
Summary
Engaging in leisure activities is linked to better cognitive ability in older adults. However, this study found no evidence that maintaining or increasing activity participation prevents cognitive decline over time.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Leisure activity participation is widely promoted for cognitive protection in aging.
- However, the causal relationship between leisure activities and cognitive function remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reciprocal associations between leisure activity participation and cognitive abilities in older adults.
- To determine if leisure activity level or changes in participation protect against cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of the Glostrup 1914 Cohort (ages 75-85).
- Assessed leisure activity scores (11 activities) and cognitive abilities every 5 years.
- Utilized growth curve modeling to analyze latent variables for level and change.
Main Results:
- Higher leisure activity was positively associated with higher cognitive ability (correlations 0.15-0.31, p < 0.05).
- Growth curve models confirmed a positive association between leisure activity level and cognitive ability (path coefficient = 0.36, p < 0.001).
- Neither leisure activity level nor change in activity predicted cognitive change over 10 years.
Conclusions:
- While a positive association exists between leisure activity and cognitive ability, this study found no evidence of a protective effect against cognitive decline.
- The findings suggest that the benefits of leisure activity on cognition may not extend to preventing decline in very old age.
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