Effects of Leisure Activities on the Cognitive Ability of Older Adults: A Latent Variable Growth Model Analysis

Abstract

Based on the data of four periods of CLHLS (2008, 2011, 2014, 2018), the latent variable growth model (LGCM) was applied to 2344 older adults who completed four follow-up surveys, to study the trajectory of leisure activities and cognitive ability and explore the relationship between leisure activities and cognitive ability of older adults. The results showed that: (1) leisure activities and cognitive ability of older adults showed a non-linear downward trend; (2) leisure activities significantly and positively predicted the cognitive ability of older adults at every time point; (3) the initial level of leisure activity positively predicted the initial level of cognitive ability but negatively predicted the rate of cognitive decline; In addition, cognitive activities had a greater effect on cognitive ability than non-exercise physical activities; (4) the rate of decline of leisure activities also significantly and positively predicted the rate of decline of cognitive ability; (5) cross-lagged regression analysis further suggested the overall positive predictive effect of leisure activity on cognitive ability; (6) overall, education level had a significant contribution to cognitive ability, and the higher the education level, the slower the decline of cognitive ability; and (7) smoking could promote cognitive ability in older adults and no significant effect was found between alcohol drinking and cognitive ability. Accordingly, the government should encourage older adults to do more leisure activities, especially the cognitive activity, to effectively prevent cognitive decline.

The high burden of symptoms associated with cognitive impairment in lung cancer patients: A latent class analysis

“…Another significant protective factor of CRCI is LA, which was reported among older adults in the community. 47 , 48 Few studies have examined the relationship between LAs and cognitive function in patients having cancer, and most studies have been conducted in community populations. Engaging in LAs in an enriched environment can increase brain-derived neurotrophic assessment and promote synaptogenesis.…”

Latent Classification Analysis of Leisure Activities and Their Impact on ADL, IADL and Cognitive Ability of Older Adults Based on CLHLS (2008–2018)

“…In addition, according to the life cycle theory, the decline in physical function accelerates over time as older people reach the end of their life cycle [ 51 ]. Furthermore, the cognition ability of older adults declined at an accelerated rate later in the life cycle [ 52 ].…”

The Effect of Activity Participation in Middle-Aged and Older People on the Trajectory of Depression in Later Life: National Cohort Study

“…Although some studies have shown that activity participation levels in middle-aged and older adults increase or stabilize over time [ 11 , 12 ], in general, the academic community generally believes that it becomes increasingly difficult for middle-aged and older people to maintain active participation as they grow older [ 13 , 14 ]. The concept of life cycle is widely used.…”

“…In psychology, it mainly refers to the life cycle of people and the life cycle of the family and also refers to the process of birth, growth, aging, illness, and death. Life cycle theory holds that after middle-aged people enter old age, their physiological and psychological processes experience a series of changes [ 14 ], which leads to changes in activity participation [ 6 ]. In a nutshell, the activity participation of the elderly (eg, leisure activities) gradually becomes simpler and decreases over time [ 11 , 14 ].…”

“…Especially among the elderly in China, they spend more time sedentary than the young [ 18 ]. In addition, life cycle theory [ 14 ] believes that when entering the final stage of the life cycle, both physical and mental functions decline sharply, suggesting that the trends in activity participation and depression should be nonlinear.…”