The Association between Neighborhood Amenities and Cognitive Function: Role of Lifestyle Activities.

Osamu Katayama,Yohei Shinkai,Hiroyuki Shimada,Keitaro Makino,Sangyoon Lee,Seongryu Bae,Ippei Chiba,Kenji Harada

doi:10.3390/jcm9072109

Osamu Katayama, Yohei Shinkai + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9072109

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Abstract

Many of the modifiable risk factors for dementia are lifestyle-related, and multidomain interventions tailored to individual lifestyles are recommended to prevent cognitive decline and dementia. However, studies of the relationship between the environment and cognitive function have shown that cognitive disorders and dementia are more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of lifestyle activities on the association between neighborhood amenities and cognitive function. Our data were measured between August 2011 and February 2012. Participants comprised 3786 older adults (mean age: 71.5 years, standard deviation (SD) = ±5.2). We categorized neighborhood amenities as institutional resources that promote cognitively beneficial activities such as physical activity. We calculated the Walk Score® for all participants using their home address and divided them into three groups. We assessed their 12 lifestyle activities performed outdoors. Cognitive function was measured via Mini-Mental Status Exam, word list memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. We found that participants who were more likely to report many lifestyle activities were more likely to have normal cognition, even in areas where neighborhood amenities were scarce. The clinical significance of this study is that increased lifestyle activity contributes to the prevention of cognitive decline.

Highlights

The increase in aging populations worldwide has been accompanied by a rise in the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [1], causing health, economic, and social burdens [2,3]
The aim of this study was to clarify the role of lifestyle activities on the association between neighborhood amenities and cognitive function
It was revealed that participants who were more likely to report many lifestyle activities were more likely to have normal cognition, even in areas where neighborhood amenities were scarce

Summary

Introduction

The increase in aging populations worldwide has been accompanied by a rise in the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [1], causing health, economic, and social burdens [2,3]. A 2014 study reported that there would be 46.8 million people with dementia worldwide by 2015, and that the number was projected to double every 20 years, reaching 74.7 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050 [4]. Interventions involving modifiable risk factors for dementia in middle-aged (45–65 years) and older adults (65 years and older) without dementia may delay or prevent dementia in one third of people [5]. Multidomain interventions tailored to individual lifestyles have been recommended to prevent cognitive decline and dementia because many of the modifiable risk factors for dementia are lifestyle-related [6]. A person with a more active lifestyle is less likely to develop cognitive decline and dementia than a less active person [8,9,10,11]

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