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Updated: Jun 17, 2025
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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
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Religious Involvement and Cognitive Function Among White, Black, and Hispanic Older Adults
Madison R Sauerteig-Rolston1,2, Lisa L Barnes3, Patricia A Thomas1,2
1Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Research on Aging
|August 7, 2024
Summary
Religious involvement impacts cognitive function in older adults, with effects varying by specific practices and race/ethnicity. Some religious activities may boost cognition, while others are linked to decline or no association.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology of Religion
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Cognitive decline is a significant concern in aging populations.
- The role of social and religious factors in cognitive health is increasingly recognized.
- Understanding these associations can inform interventions for cognitive well-being in later life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between various facets of religious involvement and cognitive function in older adults.
- To examine how these associations differ across racial and ethnic groups.
- To identify specific religious practices that may influence cognitive trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2020).
- Application of growth curve modeling to assess changes in cognitive function over time.
- Stratified analyses by race and Hispanic ethnicity to explore differential effects.
Main Results:
- Attending religious services with friends was linked to higher initial cognitive function.
- Frequent religious service attendance was associated with a slower cognitive decline rate in Hispanic older adults.
- Religious salience was negatively associated with initial cognitive function in non-Hispanic White adults; no association was found for non-Hispanic Black adults.
Conclusions:
- Specific aspects of religious involvement demonstrate varied associations with cognitive function in older adults.
- The relationship between religious involvement and cognition is moderated by race and ethnicity.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between religiosity, social engagement, and cognitive health across diverse populations.
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