Abstract
ABSTRACTUnderstanding the relationship between memory function and lifestyle offers great opportunities for promoting beneficial lifestyle choices to foster healthy cognitive aging and for the development of intervention programs for older adults. We studied a cohort of older adults (age 65 and older) enrolled in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, an ongoing prospective population-based research project. A total of 1,966 men and women participated in an episodic memory test every 3 years over a period of 14 years. Lifestyle habits were repeatedly assessed using self-report measures. Physical activity, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, difficulties staying asleep, and social engagement were associated with better memory function over the course of 14 years. In contrast, smoking and long sleep duration were associated with worse memory function. These findings suggest that certain lifestyle factors can have long-term protective or harmful effects on memory function in aging individuals.
Highlights
Cognitive decline is, to some degree, an inevitable consequence of aging
Healthy cognitive aging is the result of a complex interplay between various lifestyle factors
Understanding these relationships and identifying predictors of cognitive decline offers the potential to promote healthy cognitive aging in order to improve the quality of life in the elderly population, and to reduce the burden on the caregiver generation
Summary
To some degree, an inevitable consequence of aging. The rate of decline differs substantially between individuals. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that some potentially modifiable lifestyle habits can influence the rate of memory decline in late life. Physical activity, smoking tobacco, sleep habits, alcohol consumption, and social engagement are modifiable lifestyle factors that can play a crucial role in addressing the burden of cognitive decline. Some studies have reported that higher levels of physical activity are linked to better cognitive function and less cognitive decline (Ku et al, 2012). On the other hand, smoking tobacco (Anstey, von Sanden, Salim, & O’Kearney, 2007) and poor quality of sleep (Scullin & Bliwise, 2015) have been associated with an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
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