The Influence of Lifestyle on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in People with Dementia

Dementia is a significant global health challenge, with many cases in China, causing heavy socioeconomic burden. Current treatments mainly relieve symptoms, but lifestyle interventions may reduce dementia risk. However, existing research on the association between lifestyle factors and cognitive outcomes in older adults with cognitive impairment in China lacks regional specificity, which limits the development of tailored intervention strategies for diverse local elderly populations.

The present study aimed to assess the impact of specific lifestyle factors, including smoking status, physical activity levels, and smartphone utilization patterns, on cognitive function and among individuals diagnosed with dementia.

One hundred and sixty-nine community-dwelling individuals diagnosed with dementia according to DSM-5 criteria were recruited for this study. Lifestyle Questionnaire was collected, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to measure the cognitive function and the quality of life (QoL) scale was used to assess the quality of life. The relationship between lifestyle and cognitive function and quality of life was analyzed by simple and multiple linear regression models.

Univariate analysis revealed that smoking, moderate aerobic exercise and smartphone use were positively correlated with MMSE score. However, in multivariate models, the significant association with smoking status was no longer observed, while the positive association with ≤1 hour of daily aerobic exercise remained statistically significant. Additionally, anaerobic exercise and smartphone use exceeding 1 hour per day were independently and positively associated with QoL, whereas smoking showed an independent negative association. Alcohol consumption did not demonstrate a statistically significant association with QoL, despite a positive trend observed in some preliminary models.

Moderate aerobic/anaerobic exercise and smart device use are promising non-drug interventions for cognition and QoL in dementia. Smoking's link to worse QoL highlights the need for targeted cessation.