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A design for life: Predicting cognitive performance from lifestyle choices
Emily S Nichols1,2, Georgia Nelson3, Conor J Wild2
1Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Plos One
|April 16, 2024
Summary
Investigating numerous lifestyle choices, this study found that combinations predict cognitive performance but no single optimal lifestyle exists for maintaining brain health across different cognitive domains like memory and reasoning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Maintaining cognitive function throughout adulthood is crucial.
- Previous research often examined single lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, exercise) in isolation.
- Lifestyle choices interact, necessitating a holistic approach to understanding their combined impact on cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if combinations of lifestyle choices predict cognitive performance in the general population.
- To identify if optimal combinations of lifestyle choices vary across different cognitive domains.
- To analyze the predictive power of 20 self-reported lifestyle factors on cognitive abilities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized recursive feature elimination and random forest regression.
- Analyzed data from nearly 10,000 participants.
- Assessed 20 self-reported lifestyle choices and 12 cognitive tests measuring short-term memory, verbal abilities, and reasoning.
Main Results:
- The models explained 9% of variance in short-term memory, 8% in reasoning, and 7% in verbal abilities.
- Predictive power was observed across all three cognitive domains.
- Significant variability remained, indicating other factors influence cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- Combinations of lifestyle choices have predictive value for cognitive performance.
- No single 'optimal' lifestyle strategy universally enhances all cognitive domains.
- Modifiable lifestyle factors play a role, but predicting cognitive capacity remains complex.
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