Pharmacopsychiatry 2009; 42 - A161
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1240233

Cognitive leisure activity as a protective factor in a prospective ageing study in Germany

P Toro 1, C Sattler 1, J Schröder 1
  • 1Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany

Introduction: Epidemiological evidence suggests that participation in cognitive leisure activities reduces the risk of dementia. We asked if this protective effect was present in the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on Adult Development and Aging (ILSE) and thus modulated the risk for developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a representative birth cohort (1930–1932). Methods: 500 participants of the ILSE-study were examined in 1993/94 (t1), 1997/98 (t2) and 2005/08 (t3). Participants were carefully screened for physical and mental health through medical interviews, physical and neuropsychological examinations. In addition the participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning their current frequency of participation in cognitive leisure activities (e.g. reading). Participants were categorized as highly, moderately or poorly cognitively active according to their statements. Results: 381 participants of the original cohort were re-examined at t3. Prevalence of MCI increased from 13% to 23% and 29% over time. In addition 7% of the participants developed AD at t3. Subjects who were highly cognitively active at t1 showed a reduced risk of developing MCI or AD in the 13-year follow-up period compared to healthy controls (OR=0.23, 95% CI 0.06–0.81, p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results confirm the hypothesis that a high level of premorbid cognitive leisure activity constitutes a protective factor for the development of MCI and AD.