Longitudinal association between creative arts participation with cognitive function in late life
Darina V Petrovsky1, Abeer M Mobarki2, Justine S Sefcik3
1Duke University School of Nursing, Division of Women, Children and Families, 307 Trent Drive, Box 3322, Durham, NC 27710, United States.
International Psychogeriatrics
|February 22, 2025
Summary
Engaging in musical arts, especially during high school and later life, is linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults. Visual arts participation did not show a similar association with cognitive health.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
- Arts and Health
Background:
- Cognitive decline is a significant concern in aging populations.
- Understanding lifestyle factors that promote cognitive health is crucial.
- Previous research suggests a link between cognitive engagement and brain health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between high school arts participation and cognitive function in later life.
- To examine the relationship between lifelong arts engagement and cognitive change in older adults.
- To determine if musical or visual arts participation influences cognitive trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal retrospective data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS).
- Included Life History Mail Surveys (LHMS) and Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS) data.
- Analyzed cognitive function using a 27-point cognitive battery (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, TICS) from 1996-2018.
Main Results:
- Musical arts participation was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline in the overall sample and the War Babies cohort.
- Combined high school and current musical arts participation correlated with slower cognitive decline in the AHEAD-CODA cohort.
- No significant associations were found between visual arts participation and cognitive function or change.
Conclusions:
- Musical arts engagement, particularly when sustained from adolescence into later life, may offer protective benefits for cognitive aging.
- Different forms and timing of arts participation may have varying impacts on cognitive health.
- Further research into the mechanisms underlying the cognitive benefits of musical arts is warranted.
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