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The Interplay Between Biological Aging and Volunteering Engagement in Predicting Cognitive Performance: Evidence From
Seoyoun Kim1,2, Xi Pan1
1Department of Sociology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.
Summary
Volunteering benefits cognitive health by mitigating the effects of biological aging. Increased engagement, especially over 100 hours annually, strengthens this protective relationship against cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Cognitive Neuroscience
- Epigenetics and Aging Research
Background:
- Cognitive health is vital for population well-being and economic stability.
- Biological aging, marked by DNA methylation (DNAm), impacts cognitive performance.
- Social engagement, particularly volunteering, may modify epigenetic aging's effect on cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between five epigenetic clocks and cognitive performance.
- To determine if volunteering frequency modifies the relationship between epigenetic age acceleration and cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol within the Health and Retirement Study.
- Assessed five epigenetic clocks: Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPoAm.
- Examined effect modification by volunteering frequency on epigenetic clock-cognitive performance associations.
Main Results:
- Volunteering at any level correlated with better cognitive performance compared to no volunteering.
- Four epigenetic clocks (Horvath, PhenoAge, GrimAge, DunedinPoAm) showed effect modification by volunteering.
- Specific volunteering hours (1-100 or 101+ per year) mitigated or lessened the impact of epigenetic age acceleration on cognition.
Conclusions:
- Volunteer activities offer significant cognitive benefits.
- Volunteering frequency interacts with epigenetic aging to influence cognitive performance.
- The level of volunteer engagement modulates the relationship between epigenetic age and cognitive outcomes.
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