scholarly journals Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Religious Participation ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Cognitive Benefits

This study examines if religious participation in China is associated with cognitive functioning among the oldest-old and whether positive psychological feelings and leisure activity engagement explain the association, and gender moderates the association. Logistic regressions were used to analyze the Chinese Healthy Longevity Survey. A significant negative association between religious participation and cognitive impairment was found among the oldest-old and much of the association was mediated by positive psychological feelings and leisure activities. Women reported higher proportion of religious participation, but the cognitive benefits of religious participation were stronger for men. Findings indicate that (a) religious participation is significantly correlated with cognitive functioning in part because the religious oldest-old are more likely to be optimistic and happy and engage in more cognitively stimulating activities; (b) there might be gender differences in religious participation such that the oldest-old men may engage in religious activities that are particularly relevant to cognitive functioning.

Leisure Activity Engagement Among the Oldest Old in China, 1998–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (10) ◽  
pp. 1535-1537
Author(s):  
Qiushi Feng ◽  
Joelle H. Fong ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Changxi Liu ◽  
Huashuai Chen
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Women ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
The Past ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Elderly Chinese

Objectives. To examine the trends of leisure activity engagement among the oldest old in China for the past 2 decades. Methods. Our panel data came from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which systematically asked respondents about their current participation in leisure activities over a 20-year period. The final sample contained 66 789 interviews from 1998 to 2018. We applied generalized estimating equations regression models in our analysis. Results. Compared with 1998, odds ratios of television watching among Chinese oldest old individuals increased by about 2 to 3 times in 2018. Meanwhile, the odds ratio of exercise declined by 24%, mostly in men; playing cards and mah-jongg declined by about 30% for men. Results also showed that reading became less popular in the oldest old, and Chinese women tended to do more housework than before. Conclusions. Our findings indicated that Chinese oldest old persons have become more sedentary and solitary in the past 2 decades. The negative trend in leisure activity engagement among the elderly Chinese population warrants policy attention, and the urgent development of public health interventions is required to reverse such trends.

scholarly journals The Interaction of Life Course Socioeconomic Status and Leisure Activities on Cognitive Performance in Old Age

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 258-258
Author(s):  
Rongjun Sun ◽  
Zhenmei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Variable Approach

Abstract While the separate effects of socioeconomic status and engaging in leisure activities on cognition have been well documented, their interaction effect has rarely been examined. After examining life course socioeconomic status (SES) on cognitive impairment in old age, this paper is focused on exploring the interaction effects between life course SES and leisure activities. We use data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which covers five waves of interviews of adults aged 65 or older between 2002 and 2014. Cognitive impairment is measured by the Chinese version of Mini-Mental Status Examination. Two sets of variables are used to reflect an older person’s life course SES in childhood and adulthood, respectively. Seven leisure activities are included in this analysis. We adopt the lagged independent variable approach and a Generalized Linear Mixed Model to examine the association between leisure activity and cognitive impairment over time. Results show that there is an independent impact of SES in both childhood and adulthood on cognitive decline in Chinese older population. Furthermore, as the focus of this study, there are substantial interactions between life course SES and engaging in leisure activities with a consistent pattern: those of higher life course SES enjoy extra benefits from engaging in leisure activities. The interactions between life course SES and leisure activities promise a competing approach accounting for cognitive health inequality among older adults.

scholarly journals Specific Leisure Activities and Cognitive Functions Among the Oldest-Old: The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 739-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Mao ◽  
Zhi-Hao Li ◽  
Yue-Bin Lv ◽  
Xiang Gao ◽  
Virginia Byers Kraus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Models ◽  
Tv Watching ◽  
Watching Tv

Abstract Background: Little is known about the role of specific leisure activities in affecting cognitive functions. We aim to examine the associations of specific leisure activities with the risk of cognitive impairment among oldest-old people in China. Methods: This community-based prospective cohort study included 10,741 cognitively normal Chinese individuals aged 80 years or older (median age 88 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to estimate the effects of specific leisure activities on cognitive impairment outcome. Results: During a median follow-up time of 3.4 years (41,760 person-years), 2,894 participants developed cognitive impairment. Compared to those who “never” engaged in watching TV or listening to radio, reading books or newspapers, and playing cards or mah-jong, those who engaged in such activities “almost every day” reduced their risk of cognitive impairment, the fully-adjusted hazard ratios were 0.56 (0.51–0.61), 0.64 (0.53–0.78), and 0.70 (0.56–0.86), respectively. The association between the risk of cognitive impairment and watching TV and listening to the radio, playing cards or mah-jong, and reading books or newspapers were stronger among those who had two or more years of education. Moreover, the association between risk of cognitive impairment and watching TV and listening to radio was stronger in men than in women. Conclusions: In conclusion, a greater frequency of TV watching or radio listening, reading books or newspapers, and playing cards or mah-jong may decrease the risk of cognitive impairment among the oldest-old.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in the Association Between Leisure Activity in Adulthood and Cognitive Function in Old Age: A Prospective Longitudinal Population-Based Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda B Hassing
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Spatial Ability ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Verbal Ability ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Cultural Activity ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Abstract Objectives To examine the long-term association between leisure activities in adulthood and cognitive function in old age while recognizing gender differences in activity profiles. Methods The sample included 340 cognitively healthy twins enrolled in the OCTO-Twin Study, a longitudinal study on cognitive aging. Leisure activity was measured in midlife and cognitive function in old age (mean age 83). Leisure activities covered the domains of domestic, intellectual–cultural, and self-improvement activities. The cognitive assessments comprised 5 measurement occasions (2-year intervals) covering verbal ability, spatial ability, memory, and speed. The association between leisure activity and cognitive function was estimated separately for the genders using growth curve models, adjusting for age and education. Results Men and women had the same level of total leisure activity but differed in activity profiles and in the associations between activity and cognitive function. Higher engagement in self-improvement among men was related to higher level of cognitive functioning. Among women, intellectual–cultural activity was related to better verbal ability and memory. Concerning trajectories of cognitive function, domestic activity among men was related to less decline in speed, whereas for women it was related to steeper decline in spatial ability and memory. Further, higher intellectual–cultural activity among women was related to steeper decline in memory. Discussion Cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., self-improvement and intellectual–cultural), might increase cognitive reserve whereas less cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., domestic) do not. Gender differences should be considered when examining lifestyle factors in relation to cognitive aging.

scholarly journals GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG THE OLD AND OLDEST-OLD IN CHINA

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 708-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.E. Miyawaki ◽  
M. Liu ◽  
X. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Oldest Old

Cognitive reserve regulates the association between hearing difficulties and incident cognitive impairment evidence from a longitudinal study in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 635-643
Author(s):  
L. Chen ◽  
B. Lu
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Marginal Structural Model ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
Moderator Effects ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Hearing Difficulties

ABSTRACTBackground:Cognitive reserve (CR) can prevent the risk of incident cognitive impairment in the elderly. However, the moderator effects of CR on the link between hearing difficulties (HDs) and the risk of incident cognitive impairment are not well understood.Methods:This cohort study obtained data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 2008 to 2014. The baseline samples included 6309 participants aged 65 years and older at baseline. Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Chinese version of the Mini Mental State Examination. A composite measure of CR was calculated based on education, occupational complexity, and leisure activities of the participants. The marginal structural model was utilized to investigate whether CR moderates the association between HD and incident cognitive impairment. Odds ratios (ORs) and accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.Results:Of the 6309 participants at baseline, 1936 (30.7%) developed cognitive impairment during the 6-year follow-up period and 2562 (40.6%) reported HD. The risk of incident cognitive impairment was 1.90-fold (95% CI 1.69–2.14) for participants developing HD compared to those without. Those with middle CR had lower OR (0.72, 95% CI 0.62–0.82) that further decreased to 0.58 (95% CI 0.49–0.69) for those with high CR. Participants with HD with low CR showed the highest OR (4.32, 95% CI 3.42–5.47). In addition, individuals with HD with low education levels or low complex occupations had the highest risk of incident cognitive impairment.Conclusions:CR moderates the negative association between HD and cognitive function. Education and occupation complexity may be more sensitive proxies for CR.

scholarly journals Early Parental Death and Cognitive Impairment in Late Life: A Cohort Study

SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824401987913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Fu
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Parental Death ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Severe Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Healthy Longevity ◽  
The Impact

The burden of dementia in China is expected to increase dramatically. This study aimed to estimate the potential impact of early parental death on cognitive functioning in late life and whether education is a possible mechanism underlying this association. Data were derived from the 2002 and 2005 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The final sample consisted of 10,953 Chinese older adults aged 80 to 105 years. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the impact of early parental death and education on the odds of severe cognitive impairment in older men and women. Results showed that experiencing the death of a mother at or before 16 years of age significantly increased the risk of severe cognitive impairment in older men (but not women), independent of demographic, socioeconomic, and physical health conditions. This association did not persist over a 3-year follow-up period and was not mediated by education. These findings provide further evidence that childhood trauma is associated with adverse adult health outcomes, in this case the death of a mother in early life and cognitive impairment in late life. Potential mechanisms that may link early parental death to worse cognitive functioning over the life course were discussed.

scholarly journals What is the quality of life in the oldest old?

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1003-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria I. Lapid ◽  
Teresa A. Rummans ◽  
Bradley F. Boeve ◽  
Joan K. McCormick ◽  
V. Shane Pankratz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Geriatric Medicine ◽  
Depression Scale

ABSTRACTBackground: Maintaining and improving quality of life has become a major focus in geriatric medicine, but the oldest old have received limited attention in clinical investigations. We aimed to investigate the relationship between self-perceived and caregiver-perceived quality of life (QOL), cognitive functioning, and depressive symptoms in the oldest old.Methods: This IRB-approved prospective study recruited community dwellers aged 90–99 years old. Collected data included neurological evaluation, DSM III-R criteria for dementia, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Record of Independent Living (ROIL), and QOL assessment using the Linear Analogue Self Assessment (LASA).Results: Data on 144 subjects (56 cognitively normal (normal), 13 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 41 dementia (DEM), 34 dementia with stroke and parkinsonism (DEMSP)) over a three-year period were analyzed. Mean ages ranged from 93 to 94 years, and the majority were female with at least high school education. Overall functional ability was higher in groups without dementia (p < 0.0001). All subjects reported high overall QOL (range 6.76–8.3 out of 10), regardless of cognitive functioning. However, caregivers perceived the subjects’ overall QOL to be lower with increasing severity of cognitive impairment (p < 0.0001). Lower GDS scores correlate with higher self-perceived overall QOL (ρ = −0.38, p < 0.0001).Conclusions: In our community sample of the oldest old, there was a fairly high level of overall QOL, whether or not cognitive impairment exists. Individuals perceive their QOL better than caregivers do, and the difference in subjects’ and caregivers’ perception is more pronounced for the groups with dementia. QOL is more strongly correlated with depressive symptoms than with dementia severity.

scholarly journals Leisure activities and disability in activities of daily living among the oldest-old Chinese population: evidence from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study

Aging ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 10687-10703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-Hao Li ◽  
Qing Chen ◽  
Virginia Byers Kraus ◽  
Dong Shen ◽  
Xi-Ru Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Chinese Population ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Old Chinese ◽  
Healthy Longevity

scholarly journals Religious Participation and Mortality Risk in Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 1053-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence D Hill ◽  
Joseph L Saenz ◽  
Sunshine M Rote
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Mortality Risk ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
The United States ◽  
Religious Participation ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Health Selection ◽  
All Cause Mortality

Abstract Objectives Although research suggests that religious involvement tends to favor longevity, most of this work has been conducted in the United States. This article explores the association between religious participation and all-cause mortality risk in Mexico. Methods We used data from the 2003–2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study (n = 14,743) and Cox proportional hazard regression models to assess the association between religious participation and all-cause mortality risk. Results Our key finding is that older Mexicans who participate once or more per week in religious activities tend to exhibit a 19% reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality than those who never participate. This estimate persisted with adjustments for health selection (chronic disease burden, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive functioning, and depressive symptoms), several potential mediators (social support, smoking, and drinking), and a range of sociodemographic characteristics. Although we observed considerable health selection due to physical health and cognitive functioning, we found no evidence of mediation. Discussion Our results confirm that religious participation is associated with lower all-cause mortality risk among older adults in Mexico. Our analyses contribute to previous research by replicating and extending the external validity of studies conducted in the United States, Israel, Denmark, Finland, and Taiwan.

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