Social Participation and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Vogelsang Eric, Moorman Sara
Primary Institution: California State University San Bernardino
Hypothesis
Is increased social participation frequency associated with greater cognitive functioning in older adults?
Conclusion
Regular social and community activities may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Each additional social activity was associated with greater cognitive functioning.
- Volunteering and social/club membership were positively associated with cognition.
Takeaway
Doing more social activities can help older people think better, but not all activities work the same way.
Methodology
The study used two nationally representative longitudinal surveys and regression models to analyze the relationship between social participation frequency and cognitive measures.
Limitations
Caution is advised when interpreting the health effects of social activity counts or aggregate frequency measures.
Participant Demographics
Older adults from two nationally representative surveys.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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