New research published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement has found that older adults who regularly participated in mentally challenging activities, such as reading or puzzles, maintained higher levels of memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed over several years compared to those who were less active in these areas. Importantly, those with the highest levels of participation consistently exhibited better cognitive health throughout the study period.
As individuals age, cognitive decline becomes a natural part of the aging process, with mild cognitive impairment often seen as a precursor to dementia. Mild cognitive impairment is characterized by a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities, including memory and thinking skills, but not severe enough to interfere significantly with daily life. The conversion rate of mild cognitive impairment to dementia is approximately 10% per year, making it a critical area for research.
Current treatments for cognitive decline include both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches, but medications often come with side effects and may not be suitable for long-term use. Nonpharmacological interventions, particularly those that involve mentally stimulating activities, have gained attention as a way to preserve cognitive function. However, questions remain about the optimal level of engagement in these activities to maximize cognitive benefits. The researchers behind the new study aimed to address this gap.
“I am interested in cognitive care and have investigated the health benefits of cognitively stimulating activities among the geriatric population,” said study author Jungjoo (Jay) Lee, an assistant professor in the School of Health Professions, College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“Existing studies describe activities such as reading books, newspapers, and journaling as sedentary, recommending that these be redirected to encourage physical activities to manage cognitive function. Conversely, I want to highlight the positive impact of cognitively stimulating activities rather than avoiding them as part of cognitive care strategies from a longitudinal perspective.”
The research team analyzed data from a large, ongoing survey called the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which collects detailed information on aging Americans. For this study, they focused on data from 2012 to 2020, examining a subset of 5,932 older adults with MCI. The participants were divided into three groups based on their level of participation in cognitively stimulating leisure activities: high, medium, and low. These levels were determined based on how frequently participants engaged in activities like reading, playing games, or doing puzzles
Cognitive function was measured using three domains: memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed. Memory was assessed using tests of immediate and delayed recall of words, working memory was measured by asking participants to subtract numbers in a sequence, and attention and processing speed were evaluated through tasks that involved counting backward.
The researchers found that cognitive function naturally declined across all participants over time, which aligns with the typical aging process. However, those who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities more frequently had consistently better cognitive function than those in the low-participation group. In fact, participants in the high-participation group maintained higher levels of memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed throughout the eight-year study period.
The findings indicate that “the cognitive care program needs a comprehensive design that includes physical activities, cognitively stimulating activities, and community engagements,” Lee told PsyPost. “Balanced therapeutic strategies incorporating all these healthy behaviors will boost cognitive health benefits rather than focusing on a single domain. I suggest consulting with trained health professionals such as recreational therapists and occupational therapists to design evidence-based cognitive care programs that optimize health benefits.”
While the study accounted for some demographic factors like age and gender, other potential confounders—such as socioeconomic status, health conditions, or life events—were not fully addressed. These factors could influence both a person’s ability to engage in cognitively stimulating leisure activities and their overall cognitive health. Future studies should aim to control for these variables to gain a clearer understanding of the relationship between leisure activities and cognitive function.
“The groups engaging in cognitively stimulating activities more than twice a week consistently presented higher memory, working memory, and attention than groups that participated less in the activities,” Lee said. “However, further investigation is required to control internal and external confounders affecting healthy behaviors and each cognitive function.”
“Our team has investigated the longitudinal impacts of health behaviors on cognitive function, mental health, and the risk of chronic diseases in the marginalized population. This research is part of studies generating longitudinal evidence to design therapeutic interventions that promote cognitive health among older adults. Recently, our team has applied digital health technologies in cognitive health care, such as virtual reality, mobile health, and digital Jigsawdio puzzles. These digital health applications will provide individualized and standardized, high-quality interventions as well as enhance health equity for individuals who are geographically and economically marginalized.”
The study, “The longitudinal relationship between levels of cognitively stimulating leisure activity and positive and negative affect among older adults with MCI,” was authored by Jungjoo Lee, Junhyoung Kim, and Dubravka Svetina Valdivia.