The Longitudinal Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Following Participation in Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities by Older Adults

Objectives: This study investigated the longitudinal relationship between participation in Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities (CSLAs) and the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) in two different groups of older adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: We analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of adults in the United States from 2012 to 2020 (MCI = 14,280; without MCI = 13,695) using a Generalized Estimated Equation. The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-27 was used to identify samples with MCI, with scores ranging from 7 to 11. Results: Study findings show that CSLA participation was associated with a reduced probability of reporting the presence of ADRD in both groups. Older adults both with and without MCI who frequently participated in CSLAs were less likely to develop ADRD over an 8 year timeframe. Conclusions: Our study findings suggest that CSLAs can serve as an effective intervention to reduce the risk of developing ADRD. Importantly, our findings suggest that CSLAs have a higher probability of reducing the incidence of ADRD in older adults who are experiencing MCI than those who are not.