Activity levels and cognitive functioning in an elderly community sample

Age and Ageing,  Jan, 1996  by Helen Christensen,  Ailsa Korten,  A.F. Jorm,  A.S. Henderson,  Ruth Scott,  A.J. Mackinnon

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Potential problems with the health scales were that they aggregated equally weighted disparate medical conditions and current symptoms. More comprehensive scales measuring health factors known to influence cognitive functioning may be seen as more useful to control for health factors in the present analysis. However, the present scales were designed to control for individuals with multiple health complaints. Moreover, previous analysis of the same population using a variety of health measures failed to find relationships with cognitive functioning [14]. The failure to find strong relationships between cognitive functioning and health has been reported for other elderly populations [9]. Consequently, the use of these scales in this population sample to control for multiple health problems seems justified.

Because the study is cross-sectional, the activity relationships may be due to cohort effects. Although this explanation cannot be ruled out entirely, there is no evidence or explanation for a more sedentary life-style being present in the older cohorts. Also, because the data are cross-sectional, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the direction or nature of the relationship between cognitive performance and activity. As noted by others, for example Salthouse et al. [9], high levels of cognitive function may be a prerequisite for certain sorts of experiences. In these cases, rather than activity improving mental functioning, mental functioning may influence the type of activity participated in and thus reflect cognitive competence. The direction of causation between activity levels and cognitive performance can better be clarified in longitudinal studies, although the direction of the relationship, even there, can be difficult to determine [29].

The data from the present study are from the first wave of a longitudinal study and the relationship of activity with cognitive decline will be examined after wave 2 data are collected. Nevertheless, the present study confirms that it is `prudent to recommend to elderly people that stimulating mental activity is worthwhile' [7]. However, the study findings might suggest the following caveats: (i) activity levels will only make a small amount of difference; (ii) other factors such as sensory and motor functioning are also important; and (iii) despite the contribution of all these factors, cognitive performance will tend to get worse with advancing age.

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