Physical Leisure Activities and their Role in Preventing Dementia: A Systematic Review.

Apathy predicts functional and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults. However, the behavioral correlates of apathy, which could promote cognitive decline have not been described. Our objective was to investigate the associations of apathy with leisure and social engagement. N = 538 older adults enrolled in the Central Control of Mobility in Aging study. We used the GDS3A, a 3-item subscale of the Geriatric Depression Scale, to define apathy and the frequency of participation in cognitive, physical, and social leisure activities. Linear regression models were conducted to assess the association between apathy and its behavioral correlates: social engagement and leisure activity participation. Covariates included age, gender, education level, multimorbidity, and dysphoria. Apathy was present in 29.7% of participants and was significantly associated with less frequent participation in physical activity days per week (-1.688. p = 0.003) but not cognitive (-1.094, p = 0.252) or social (-0.654, p = 0.103) leisure activities. Apathy was also associated with a decreased social behavior composite score (-0.055, p < 0.001), Social Network Index (-0.478, p = 0.003), and Medical Outcomes Study Social Support scores (-0.26, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that apathy presents with reduced participation in physical leisure activities and reduced social engagement, which may provide a way for clinicians and caregivers to identify apathy in the future.

The aim was to identify the prevalence of long-lasting pain among children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to investigate the association between pain and participation in physical leisure activities. This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the National Danish Clinical Quality Database of children with CP. The study population consisted of 960 children aged 2-11years across all Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. Data were collected at children's regular clinical visits in 2016 or 2017. Information about pain and participation in physical leisure activities were obtained. The association was estimated as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) by logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. We included data from 817 children (59% boys) median age 6years, 52% classified as GMFCS level I. A total of 36% reported pain, and the most frequent pain locations were hips, feet and knees. Children reporting pain had lower odds for participation in physical leisure activities (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.96). A large proportion of children with CP reported pain. There is an indication that long-lasting pain influences participation in physical leisure activities. Pain-relieving interventions are important to decrease pain-related suffering and facilitate participation.

To describe leisure participation in adolescents with congenital heart defects (CHD) and identify factors associated with intensity of participation. Eighty adolescents with CHD were recruited (39 males, 41 females; mean age [SD] 15y 8mo [1y 8mo] range 11y 5mo-19y 11mo) of whom 78 completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) outcome measure of leisure participation. The measure has five subscales: recreational, active-physical, social, skill-based, and self-improvement. Associations between the CAPE and age, sex, and development were examined. Motor ability (Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition), cognition (Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised), behavior (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), and motivation (Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire) were assessed. Participants exhibited impaired motor (43.5%), behavioral (23.7%), and cognitive (29.9%) development. The most intense participation was in social (mean [SD] 3.3 [0.99]) and recreational (2.9 [0.80]) activity types on the CAPE. Male sex (p<0.05) and younger age were associated with greater physical activity (<15y: 1.87; ≥15y: 1.31, p<0.05). Greater engagement in social activities was related to better cognition (r=0.28, p<0.05), higher motor function (r=0.30-0.36, p<0.01), and fewer behavioral difficulties (r=-0.32 to -0.47, p<0.01). Cognitive ability (r=0.27, p<0.05), dexterity and aiming/catching (r=0.27-0.33, p<0.05), and behavior problems (r=0.38-0.49, p=0.001) were correlated with physical activity participation. Persistence in tasks, an aspect of motivation, correlated with physical (r=0.45, p<0.001) and social activity involvement (r=0.28, p<0.05). Ongoing developmental impairments in adolescents with CHD are associated with decreased active-physical and social engagement, putting them at risk of poor physical and mental health. Health promotion strategies should be considered. Adolescents with congenital heart defects (CHD) have limited engagement in active-physical leisure activities. Cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments are associated with decreased participation in leisure in children with CHD. Female sex and older age are associated with less engagement in leisure. Mastery motivation correlates with participation, suggesting an avenue for intervention.

Aim To synthesise the best available evidence concerning the role of physical leisure activities in preventing dementia among older adults. Methods Studies containing adults aged 60 years and older with or without a clinical diagnosis of dementia who did or did not participate in physical leisure activities were considered. Activities were those that required active movement of the body such as gardening or playing sports, which were not for occupation-related purposes nor activities of daily living. Experimental and observational studies in the English language were targeted; there was no date restriction. Results A total of 17 epidemiological studies were included in the review. The evidence was equivocal regarding the relationship between participation in physical activities during midlife and later life and the prevention of dementia. Conclusion Participating in physical activities during middle and later adult life can be neither refuted nor recommended to prevent the onset of dementia. Engaging in some physical activities (i.e. gardening, walking) appears to be more beneficial than engaging in other activities.

This study tested a path model that included perceptions of social support and self-efficacy for leisure physical activity and leisure physical activity participation among adults with intellectual disabilities. A cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected via oral interview. Community-based group, supported-living settings in one Midwestern state. A total of 152 adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, which provided a 39% response rate. Self-efficacy and social support (from family, residential staff and peers with disabilities) for leisure physical activity were assessed using self-reported scales. Leisure physical activity participation was measured with a self-reported checklist of the frequency of leisure physical activity participation. Path analysis was conducted for the entire sample and was repeated for younger and older age groups. The hypothesized model fit the data from each group. Social support and self-efficacy predicted physical activity participation, and self-efficacy served as a mediator between social support and physical activity. Significant sources of social support differed between groups; among younger participants, social support from family predicted physical activity, whereas, for the older group, social support from staff and peers predicted physical activity. Self-efficacy and social support for leisure physical activity are related to leisure physical activity participation among adults with intellectual disabilities who are receiving supported-living services. The results provide information to guide health promotion programs for this group.

This study aimed to broaden the understanding of young South Asian women’s experiences and relationship with participation in leisure physical activity (PA) at universities in the United States. Using a phenomenological design, semistructured interviews were conducted with five South Asian women aged 18–25 from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, who were non-U.S. citizens attending a university in the United States and were engaged or were attempting to engage in leisure PAs. Findings showed one broader theme of “Nazar Andaz” (in Urdu for ignorance), representing cultural negligence or awareness within American society. Two subthemes interpret how or why certain cultural factors may have had such an influence on participants. The first subtheme, Ijtimaiyat (pulled apart or stretched), considers how many individuals from South Asian communities mostly participate in PA among their friends, families, or within their cultural group. The second subtheme, Infradiat pasandi (independent, lone wolf), represents the separation many of the participants may have experienced by being so far physically removed from their home country. Overall, participants generally perceived the United States as a “safer” place with excellent infrastructure, ample opportunities to engage in PA, and convenient access to gyms, which encourage them (women) to remain active. However, most participants expressed hesitancy to participate in PA because of the system’s cultural nonresponsiveness. To promote the better involvement of South Asians in PA, it is necessary to discuss the societal factors and cultural considerations that may be different within and across cultures.

Associations between leisure physical activity participation and cortical bone mass and geometry at the radius and tibia in a Canadian cohort of postmenopausal women

635 Understanding parent perceptions of healthy physical activity for their child with a chronic medical condition

This study examines participation in leisure physical activity, leisure satisfaction, and life satisfaction from a life course perspective, using self-report data from a stratified random sample of adults living in a midsized Canadian city. Findings indicate that physical activity is most strongly associated with leisure satisfaction in the younger age groups, whereas no consistent age pattern is observed in the relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction. Regression analyses that are controlled for income, education, and age indicate major gender differences in the impact of participation in leisure physical activity on life satisfaction, with participation being more important for females. Path analysis indicates that leisure satisfaction contributes both directly and indirectly to life satisfaction. The findings provide evidence for age variation in sources of life satisfaction apart from leisure, and for important gender differences in the role of physical activity.

Background: With the increasing survival rates associated with advanced cancer, more people are living with the substantial effects of this health condition and its treatments. Despite reported difficulties in daily activities and potential benefits with leisure physical activity (PA), there is limited knowledge on participation in leisure PA in people with advanced cancer.Objective: The objective of our scoping review is to examine and map the literature on leisure PA in people with advanced cancer. Specifically, we wish to: (a) examine the extent, range and nature of literature on leisure PA in people with advanced cancer; (b) report on how leisure PA has been explored in the identified body of literature and (c) report on the use and definitions of terms to describe the advanced cancer population in the identified body of literature.Methods: The following steps will be taken to perform a scoping review on leisure PA in people with advanced cancer. A peer-reviewed literature search of 11 electronic databases and supplementary material will be conducted. Two reviewers will independently scan titles and abstracts and subsequently review full texts to determine eligibility according to the article selection criteria. Relevant data will be extracted from the included studies by two reviewers. A narrative summary of the findings will be presented with a descriptive analysis of the evidence base and a thematic analysis of content-specific information.Conclusion: This scoping review will provide a comprehensive understanding of the current literature on leisure PA in people with advanced cancer and will identify gaps in knowledge on this topic to guide future research inquiries.

INTRODUÇÃO: As modificações estruturais e funcionais observa-das no envelhecimento, associadas ao sedentaris-mo, aceleram o declínio da capacidade funcional. OBJETIVO: Analisar os fatores associados à atividade física insuficiente no lazer entre idosos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com amostra constituída de 562 indivíduos residentes no município de Feira de Santana, BA, 69,6% do sexo feminino e 30,4% do sexo masculino com média de idade de 68,93 ± 7,05 anos. Foi utilizado um formulário contendo informações sociodemográficas, doenças referidas e participação em atividades físicas no lazer. A participação em atividade física no lazer foi avaliada segundo autopercepção do tipo e da intensidade da atividade (leve moderada ou pesada). Para análise estatística, foi utilizada a técnica de regressão logística, com o cálculo das razões de prevalência, intervalo de confiança (95%) e nível de significância p≤0,05. RESULTADOS: Entre os indivíduos estudados, apenas 18,3% foram classificados como ativos no lazer. A população investigada apresenta uma elevada frequência de indivíduos inativos no lazer, principalmente entre as pessoas de baixa renda e entre aqueles com idades mais avançadas. CONCLUSÃO: Estes achados fomentam a discussão sobre a necessidade de implementação de políticas públicas de saúde e a criação de espaços de prática do lazer ativo destinados a população idosa no âmbito do SUS.

Dementia is a debilitating syndrome that inflicts a tremendous burden of care on one's family, individual caregivers, health care professionals and on the use of resources. Existing therapeutic interventions can only help control or reduce symptoms, and slow the disease's progression. Identifying protective factors or effective prevention strategies would result in considerable benefits. Participation in cognitive leisure activities has been implicated as a possible prevention strategy. The objective of the review was to establish best practice in relation to cognitive leisure activities in preventing dementia among older adults. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), other experimental studies, cohort studies, case-controlled studies and cross-sectional studies were considered for the review.Participants of interest were adults aged 60 years and older with or without a clinical diagnosis of dementia, living in the community or residential care setting.The review focussed on any cognitive leisure activity that required a mental response from the individual taking part in the activity e.g. reading and playing board games.The primary outcome of the review was the presence or absence of dementia, determined by cognitive function tests, mental examination scores, DSM classification (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), and other valid dementia diagnostic tools. A search for published and unpublished literature in the English language was conducted using all major electronic databases. There was no publication date restriction. A three-step search strategy was developed using MeSH terminology and keywords to ensure that all material relevant to the review was captured. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed by two reviewers, who appraised each study independently, using standard Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Data was extracted from the studies that were identified as meeting the criteria for methodological quality using the standard JBI data extraction tools. Due to the heterogeneity of populations and interventions, meta-analyses were not possible and results are presented in narrative form. Thirteen longitudinal studies were included in the review. Studies were grouped by stage of adult life participation when interventions were undertaken i.e. early-middle adulthood and late life. Five out of six studies demonstrated a positive association between engagement in activities and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) when interventions were undertaken in middle adulthood and six out of seven studies produced a positive association for late life participation. Results indicated that some activities might be more beneficial than others.Actively participating in cognitive leisure activities during mid or late life may be beneficial in preventing the risk of dementia in the elderly however the evidence is currently not strong enough to infer a direct causal relationship.Participating in selected cognitive leisure activities may be more favourable than others but currently there is no strong evidence to recommend one over the other.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean men are withdrawing from social interactions and feeling depressed due to financial difficulties. This depression can be reduced through physical activities and use of social media for communication. Therefore, this study aims to examine activities effective in reducing depression by analyzing the differences in physical activities and levels of social media addiction, depending on the level of depression. Methods: A total of 591 Korean males affected by the COVID-19 pandemic participated in the study. Results were extracted by frequency analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, chi-square test, and t-test using SPSS 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Chi-square test, which analyzed differences in demographic characteristics based on the level of depression, revealed significant differences in monthly average family incomes, levels of participation in physical leisure activities, extent of social media usage and kinds of social media used. Significant differences existed in high-intensity physical activities as well as social media non-addiction and addiction depending on the level of depression. Conclusions: Since COVID-19 is increasing depression in males, government or health-related institutes need to provide spacious areas to engage in physical activities, which may help reduce suicidal ideation and restore mental health in Korean males. Moreover, there is a need to develop diverse health-related social media contents, which can help reduce depression. Thus, it has been thought that places to perform physical activities and sufficient communication with others on social media can prove helpful in managing depression.

To determine the predictors of magnitude of change in response to a participation-focused leisure-time physical activity intervention in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using the ParticiPAte CP protocol. We included 33 children (16 males, 17 females) aged 8 to 12years (mean age=10y, SD=1y 6mo) with CP with pre/postintervention data from a wait-list randomized trial. The hypothesized linear predictors of change in primary outcomes (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]-performance and COPM-satisfaction, Belief in Goal Self-Competence Scale (BiGSS), and minutes per day moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) were: age; Gross Motor Function Classification System level; comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD); Goal Attainment Scaling T score; Problems in Schools Questionnaire; Physical Activity Climate Questionnaire; Motives for Physical Activities Measure-Revised; and stage of behaviour change. Multivariable models were selected using the Bayesian information criterion. Overcoming barriers to participation, age, and comorbid ASD explained 49% of the variance in change in COPM-performance. Being motivated by interest and/or enjoyment and age explained 32% of the variance in change in COPM-satisfaction. Being motivated by physical activity competence or appearance (extrinsic motivation) explained 24% of the variance in change in BiGSS. Parental autonomy supportiveness, overcoming barriers to participation, appearance motivation, and baseline MVPA explained 59% of the variance in change in MVPA. These findings support a behaviour paradigm for conceptualizing physical activity in children with CP. Children who met their treatment goals showed a greater increase in physical activity participation. Children who were more intrinsically motivated by physical activity at baseline improved more. Being older and having a comorbid diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder were associated with an attenuated effect of the therapy.

This article aims to examine the factors that motivate middle-aged women to engage in leisure physical activity (LPA) and to explore the relationship between resources loss and gains and engaging in LPA. It is a cross-sectional study based on a self-reported questionnaire (n = 949), using variables of the conservation of resources theory and the theory of planned behavior. Results show that women who engage in physical activity experience lower resources loss than inactive women. The longer they engage in physical activity, the less they experience losses such as youth, attractiveness, optimism, health, and beauty. Conservation of resources, perceived behavioral control, attitudes, and normative beliefs predict 41% (p < .0001) of the variance in the engagement in leisure physical activity. Findings suggest that constructing effective strategies to promote LPA requires also addressing these factors, which are valued by middle-aged women.