Abstract
Leisure activity participation has been associated with reduced risk of dementia. It is unclear whether reduced participation is the cause or consequence of preclinical dementia. Methods: We prospectively examined the relation between leisure activities and dementia risk in a cohort of 469 community-dwelling non-demented subjects older than age 75. We derived cognitive- and physical-activity scales based on baseline leisure activity participation, measuring activity-days per week. Results: During follow-up (median 5.1 years), 124 subjects developed dementia. A one-point cognitive-activity score increment was associated with reduced dementia risk (hazard ratio, 0.93, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.97); increasing physical activity did not affect dementia risk. The cognitive-activity association persisted even after excluding subjects who developed dementia within the first seven years of follow-up. Results were similar for Alzheimer and vascular dementias. Conclusions: leisure activity participation is associated with reduced dementia risk, even after accountingfor possible preclinical dementia.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 54-58 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Research and Practice in Alzheimer's Disease |
Volume | 12 |
State | Published - 2007 |
Keywords
- Cognition
- Dementia
- Leisure activities
- Physical activities
- Preclinical dementia
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
- Aging
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Biological Psychiatry