Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly

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.