Engagement in cognitive activities and risk of loneliness: A longitudinal study among Japanese older adults

Loneliness is a growing public health concern due to its association with adverse health outcomes in older adults. Research on the relationship between participation in cognitive activities and the alleviation of loneliness remains limited. This study examined longitudinal associations between engagement in cognitive activities and the onset of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.

The prospective cohort initially included 5563 older adults. After excluding participants with baseline loneliness or missing data, 2317 participants (mean age 73.5 ± 5.4 years; 58.1 % women) were analyzed and followed for 36.7 ± 2.3 months. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Six cognitive activities were evaluated: reading, keeping a diary, solving crossword puzzles, playing board games, participating in group discussions, and playing musical instruments. Logistic regression, adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, health, and cognitive covariates, examined associations of individual activities and total activity frequency with the onset of loneliness.

During follow-up, 574 participants (24.8 %) developed loneliness. Reading (OR = 0.61, 95 % CI = 0.41-0.91, p = .01) and participating in group discussions (OR = 0.63, 95 % CI = 0.51-0.77, p < .001) were significantly associated with a reduced risk of loneliness. Frequent engagement in other cognitive activities was not associated with lower loneliness.

Engagement in specific cognitive activities was associated with lower odds of loneliness. These findings suggest that it may be important to consider not only the frequency of cognitive activities but also their specific characteristics and qualities.