Findings from a recent study indicate that older adults experiencing mild cognitive impairment who participate in various activities, like word games and hobbies, tend to have improved memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed compared to their less active peers.
The natural aging process can lead to reduced cognitive abilities in older individuals. Furthermore, around 10% of those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia each year.
While some studies have suggested that engaging in activities like solving jigsaw puzzles may help in slowing cognitive decline, the overall impact of these activities on preventing or delaying cognitive deterioration is not yet fully understood.
Recent research from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health reveals that older adults with mild cognitive impairment who are very active in pursuits such as word games and hobbies exhibit superior memory, working memory, attention levels, and processing speed compared to those who are less engaged.
“Currently, nearly six million individuals in the United States have dementia, and this figure is expected to rise to about 14 million by 2060, with minority communities being the most affected,” stated Dr. Junhyoung “Paul” Kim, an associate professor of health behavior at Texas A&M. “Our goal was to help address the gaps in knowledge surrounding cognitive decline.”
The research, published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, involved Kim and colleagues from the University of Southern Mississippi and Indiana University analyzing data from 5,932 participants aged 50 and older in 2012, all of whom had mild cognitive impairment and were part of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) conducted from 2012 to 2020.
The HRS gathers information through self-reported paper surveys and comprehensive phone interviews. For this study, researchers evaluated responses to seven questions related to the frequency of engagement in cognitively stimulating activities like reading, gaming, and hobbies. They then categorized the involvement levels into low, medium, and high, based on criteria from previous research, and performed repeated-measured multivariate analysis of covariance.
“In summary, those in the high-level participation group demonstrated consistently higher cognitive function throughout the study and retained cognitive levels comparable to other groups,” Kim mentioned.
The high-level group showed enhanced memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed compared to the mid-level and low-level participants. Additionally, mid-level participants had better working memory and attention and processing speed than those in the low-level category.
“We observed notable differences in all three cognitive functions over time, although the differences between 2014 and other years studied were not statistically significant,” remarked Kim.
Kim and his team are optimistic that these results will encourage healthcare professionals to advise older adults with mild cognitive impairment to engage in games, reading, or other stimulating activities at least three to four times per week.
“Moreover, we hope to overcome obstacles that prevent such activities, like insufficient caregiver support and financial limitations, through enhanced public care services and community support systems,” Kim added.
