Abstract
Participation in social activities is one of important factors for older adults’ health. The present study aims to examine the cross-sectional association between social activities and cognitive function among Chinese elderly. A total of 8966 individuals aged 60 and older from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were obtained for this study. Telephone interviews of cognitive status, episodic memory, and visuospatial abilities were assessed by questionnaire. We used the sum of all three of the above measures to represent the respondent’s cognitive status as a whole. Types and frequencies of participation in social groups were used to measure social activities. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between social activities and cognitive function. After adjustment for demographics, smoking, drinking, depression, hypertension, diabetes, basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and self-rated health, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that interaction with friends, participating in hobby groups, and sports groups were associated with better cognitive function among both men and women (p < 0.05); doing volunteer work was associated with better cognitive function among women but not among men (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that there is a cross-sectional association between participation in social activities and cognitive function among Chinese elderly. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the effects of social activities on cognitive function.
Highlights
According to the World Alzheimer report, over 46 million people were living with dementia worldwide in 2015, and this number is estimated to reach 131.5 million by 2050 [1]
In this cross-sectional analysis, our study found that the elderly who participated in social activities were significantly associated with better cognitive function
Base on the types of social activities, our results showed that participating in hobby groups, sports groups, and interaction with friends were positively associated with cognitive function in both genders, while doing voluntary work had a positive significantly association with cognitive function among women, not among men
Summary
According to the World Alzheimer report, over 46 million people were living with dementia worldwide in 2015, and this number is estimated to reach 131.5 million by 2050 [1]. Cognitive decline is the defining feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. It significantly increases the risk of functional dependence and poor quality of life in the elderly [2]. The elderly people who suffer from cognitive decline are more likely to experience few activities of daily living, and demand continuous care from their families and society. The cognitive decline of elderly can increase the burden of family members and social insurance funds. Previous studies have shown that cognitive decline is associated with socio-demographic factors [4], life habits [5], chronic diseases [4], and social networks [6]
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