2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Geriatric psychological study on the relationship between lifestyle and the preservation of the decline in cognitive function in elderly people
| Project/Area Number |
21730534
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Educational psychology
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| Research Institution | Wakayama Medical University |
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Principal Investigator |
IWAHARA Akihiko Wakayama Medical University, 保健看護学部, 准教授 (30353014)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2009 – 2010
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| Keywords | 高次脳機能 / 中高年者 / 加齢 / 情報通信機器 / 生きがい |
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| Research Abstract |
There is epidemiological evidence that lifestyle characterized by engagement in leisure activities of intellectual and social nature is associated with slower cognitive decline in healthy elderly. Especially, cognitively stimulating experience is thought to contribute to cognitive reserve. However, little is known about the benefits of the use of information technology (e.g., searching information by computer, reading online newspapers, and computer-mediated communication) that is recognized as a sort of cognitive activity. In a cohort of 277 elderly persons without dementia, we assessed current frequency of cognitive activity including the use of information technology, and cognitive functions. The cognitive functions were measured by means of logical memory test (test for the assessment of episodic memory), Money road test (test for the assessment of visuospatial ability), Stroop test (test for the assessment of executive function), D-CAT (test for the assessment of attention) and verbal fluency test (test for the assessment of semantic memory). We constructed a series of linear regression models to examine the association of cognitive activity with each cognitive function. In analyses controlling for age, sex, and education, more frequent cognitive activity was related to better performance in logical memory test and Stroop test. In addition, more frequent use of information technology was related to better performance in Money road test and D-CAT. The results suggest that current cognitive activity contributes to slower decline of episodic memory and executive function, and that current activity concerning the use of a computer contributes to slower decline of visuospatial ability and attention.
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Research Products
(9 results)
