Leisure activities can reduce the risk of dementia, study finds Leisure activities such as reading a book, doing yoga or spending time with family and friends may help reduce the risk of dementia. This is the result of a meta-analysis that investigated the effects of cognitive, physical, and social activities on dementia risk.
Previous studies have shown that recreational activities are associated with a variety of health benefits, including reduced cancer risk, reduced atrial fibrillation, and individuals’ perceptions of well-being. “There is conflicting evidence for the role of leisure activities in dementia prevention,” said Lin Lu, PhD, Peking University 6 Hospital, China, author of the new study. “We found that it was associated with a reduced risk of dementia,” he said.
The study looked at 38 studies worldwide, covering more than 2 million adults without dementia. Participants were observed for at least 3 years. They provided information on leisure activities through questionnaires and interviews. Leisure activities are participation for personal enjoyment or well-being. The research team classified leisure activities into three categories: social, physical, and mental.
During the study period, 74,700 people developed dementia. After considering conditions such as age, gender and education, the researchers found an association between leisure activities and a lower overall dementia incidence. Those who participated in leisure activities had a 17% lower risk of dementia compared to those who did not. Mental activities consisted mainly of reading and writing as hobbies, watching television, listening to the radio, playing games or musical instruments, using computers, and crafts. The researchers found that participants who engaged in these activities had a 23% lower risk of dementia.
Physical activities included walking, running, yoga, swimming, sports, biking, using exercise equipment, and dancing. Those who participated in this category of activity were found to have a 17% lower risk of developing dementia.
Social activity refers primarily to activities that involve communication with other people. This includes attending lectures, volunteering, joining a social club, visiting relatives or friends, and attending religious activities. Those who participated in these activities had a 7% lower risk of dementia.
Professor Lu said, “This meta-analysis suggests that there are benefits of an active lifestyle, and that there are many activities that are beneficial to the brain and can be easily incorporated into daily life.”
The study was published in the journal Neurology. The original title is ‘Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis’.
Reporter Lee Bo-hyun together@kormedi.com
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