Skip to main content

Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activity Protects From Further Cognitive Decline

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 19, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2024 -- High levels of cognitively stimulating leisure activity (CSLA) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can slow further decline, according to a study recently published online in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.

Jungjoo Lee, from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, and colleagues examined the longitudinal relationship between participation in different levels of CSLA and three cognitive functions (i.e., memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed) among 5,932 older adults with MCI participating in the Health and Retirement Study (2012 to 2020).

The researchers found that those with high-level CSLA participation had higher levels of memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed than those with mid- and low-level participation. Older adults with mid-CSLA participation had higher levels of working memory and attention and processing speed than those with low-level CSLA. Additionally, there were significant differences in all three cognitive functions between years, with a declining slope. However, the differences between 2014 and the other years of the dataset were not significant. The high-level CSLA participation group consistently showed higher cognitive function levels during the study period than the other groups and also maintained a similar level of cognitive functions.

"By incorporating the findings of this study into clinical guidelines, health care providers will be able to offer an optimal level of CSLA programming at least three to four times a week," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Intensive BP Reduction Effective for Lowering All-Cause Dementia Risk

TUESDAY, April 29, 2025 -- An intensive blood pressure (BP) reduction intervention is effective for lowering the risk for all-cause dementia among individuals aged 40 years and...

32 Percent of Dementia Attributed to Audiometric Hearing Loss

MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- The population attributable fraction of dementia from any audiometric hearing loss is 32.0 percent, according to a study published online April 17 in...

Moderately Preterm Birth Tied to Long-Term Cognitive Problems

FRIDAY, April 25, 2025 -- Moderately preterm birth is associated with cognitive problems at ages 9 to 10 years, according to a study published online April 14 in JAMA Network...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.