Abstract
This study examined the association between television (TV) viewing and cognitive dysfunction in elderly Koreans. Among participants of the 2014 National Survey of Older Koreans, 9644 were considered in this study. To better identify the association between two factors, propensity score (PS) matching with exact method was used. Finally, 168 viewers and non-viewers each were selected based on estimated PS on key variables and eliminating double matches. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed when controlling for possible covariates. Viewers were more likely to have cognitive dysfunction than non-viewers, with significant differences in most covariates. After correcting confounding effects of these covariates with PS matching, TV viewing was found to be a significant risk factor of cognitive dysfunction, along with absence of diagnosed hypertension and non-participation in physical leisure activities. TV viewing might be associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction in later life. Appropriate education and strategies to minimize TV viewing among older adults should be established to contribute to attenuating cognitive aging. More interventional studies can help older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals explore the cognitively beneficial alternatives to TV use considering the impact of socioeconomic factors of selecting TV viewing as a preferred leisure activity.
Highlights
Cognitive dysfunction is the leading cause of concern regarding the aging of older adults because age is a major non-modifiable risk factor for the development of dementia [1]
This study was the first report of identifying the association between TV viewing and cognitive dysfunction by using nationally representative data of Korean adults aged over 65 years old
We found that the leisure time TV viewers were more likely to have cognitive dysfunction than the propensity score (PS)-matched non-viewers
Summary
Cognitive dysfunction is the leading cause of concern regarding the aging of older adults because age is a major non-modifiable risk factor for the development of dementia [1]. In 2017, there were an estimated 50 million people living with dementia worldwide and this number is likely to rise to about 152 million people worldwide by 2050 [2]. Healthy cognitive aging and dementia prevention methods have become priorities for maintaining high levels of functional abilities with an emphasis on independent living. Engaging in leisure activities has consistently been reported to be beneficial for late-life cognitive functioning [4,5]. Previous cohort studies have supported the theory that the onset of dementia can be delayed by both physical and cognitive leisure activities among community-dwelling older adults [6,7]
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