Relationships between cognitive leisure activities and cognitive function in older adults with depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe current study aimed to elucidate the associations between cognitive leisure activities and cognitive function in an older population stratified by having or not having depressive symptoms.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study based on a self-report questionnaire.SettingAnnual health check-ups in a rural community in Japan.ParticipantsA total of 11 010 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years (mean age: 74.0±5.4 years) was examined. Participants with missing data for the main outcome (n=1630) were excluded.Outcome measuresCognitive impairment was defined as at least 1.5 SD below the reference threshold (age-adjusted and education-adjusted score) on two of more of the tests in the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool. Depressive symptoms were defined by a 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale score ≥6. We assessed the frequency of participation in cognitive leisure activities using the validated scale (score: 0–42). A score of ≥8 points was defined as frequent participation in cognitive leisure activities.ResultsA total of 12.6% (n=1186) of the participants had depressive symptoms. There was a significant association between cognitive leisure activities and cognitive impairment in older adults (adjusted OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.65 to 0.94). In older adults with depressive symptoms, a higher frequency of cognitive leisure activities was negatively associated with cognitive impairment (adjusted OR=0.45, 95% CI=0.28 to 0.70). In contrast, there was no significant association in older adults without depressive symptoms (adjusted OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.70 to 1.02).ConclusionsEngaging in cognitive leisure activities in late life is associated with better cognitive function in older adults with depressive symptoms.