Effect of Social Activity on All-Cause Dementia Among South Korean Elders: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Dementia leads to substantial social and economic impacts in older adults. Due to the unprecedented rate of population aging, the number of dementia cases has increased in South Korea. Managing risk factors is crucial for delaying or preventing the progression of dementia, as existing treatments have uncertain effectiveness. Despite the importance of health behaviors in maintaining cognitive function and the well-known association between cognitive decline and dementia, research regarding preventive health behaviors for dementia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of social activity on dementia in older South Koreans.

Data from the 2018 and 2020 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 6156 older Koreans) were included in this study. Social activity was the primary independent variable. The dependent variable was the presence of Alzheimer's or vascular dementia or dementia due to brain tumors or hypothyroidism. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed.

Individuals who did not participate in any social activities had a significantly higher risk of developing dementia than those who were socially active (hazard ratio: 2.36; 95% confidence interval = 1.29-4.32). Younger participants exhibited a lower risk of dementia than participants > 75 years of age. The beneficial effects of social activity were more pronounced among urban participants.

Engagement in at least one social activity significantly reduced the risk of dementia among older adults. These data will be helpful for the formulation of future public health policies and preventive strategies in Korea.