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Network of mental activities, cognitive function and depression in older men and women

Hopkins, Ella G. ; Leman, Patrick J. ; Cervin, Matti LU ; Numbers, Katya ; Brodaty, Henry ; Kochan, Nicole ; Sachdev, Perminder S. and Medvedev, Oleg N. (2023) In Journal of Psychiatric Research 162. p.113-122
Abstract
Background

Evidence suggests that lifestyle activities impact cognitive and mental health in older populations. However, how lifestyle factors are associated with one another, and which factors are most important for cognitive function and mental health has received comparatively little attention.
Design

Bayesian-Gaussian network analysis was used to investigate unique associations between mental activities (MA; i.e., activities involving cognitive engagement), global cognition, and depression at three time-points in a large sample of older adults (baseline, 2 years, and 4 years follow-up).
Setting

This study used longitudinal data from participants living in Australia and participating in the Sydney... (More)
Background

Evidence suggests that lifestyle activities impact cognitive and mental health in older populations. However, how lifestyle factors are associated with one another, and which factors are most important for cognitive function and mental health has received comparatively little attention.
Design

Bayesian-Gaussian network analysis was used to investigate unique associations between mental activities (MA; i.e., activities involving cognitive engagement), global cognition, and depression at three time-points in a large sample of older adults (baseline, 2 years, and 4 years follow-up).
Setting

This study used longitudinal data from participants living in Australia and participating in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study.
Participants

The sample included 998 participants (55% female) aged between 70 and 90, without a diagnosis of dementia at baseline.
Measurements

Neuropsychological assessment of global cognition, self-reported depressive symptoms, and self-reported information about daily MA.
Results

Cognitive functioning was positively associated with playing tabletop games and using the internet in both sexes at all time-points. MA were differentially linked in men and women. Depression was not consistently associated with MA in men across the three time-points; women who visited artistic events consistently had lower depression scores.
Conclusions

Engaging with tabletop games and using the internet was associated with better cognition in both sexes, however sex acted as a modifier for other associations. These findings are useful for future investigations that consider interactive associations between MA, cognition, and mental health in older adults, and their possible roles in promoting healthy aging.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Network analysis, Mental activities, Older adults, Cognition, Depression
in
Journal of Psychiatric Research
volume
162
pages
113 - 122
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85154565240
  • pmid:37148602
ISSN
1879-1379
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.030
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
89f0f76d-280d-4f91-a743-5f9a7f0cf5a3
date added to LUP
2023-05-05 15:03:47
date last changed
2023-08-05 03:00:02
@article{89f0f76d-280d-4f91-a743-5f9a7f0cf5a3,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/><br/>Evidence suggests that lifestyle activities impact cognitive and mental health in older populations. However, how lifestyle factors are associated with one another, and which factors are most important for cognitive function and mental health has received comparatively little attention.<br/>Design<br/><br/>Bayesian-Gaussian network analysis was used to investigate unique associations between mental activities (MA; i.e., activities involving cognitive engagement), global cognition, and depression at three time-points in a large sample of older adults (baseline, 2 years, and 4 years follow-up).<br/>Setting<br/><br/>This study used longitudinal data from participants living in Australia and participating in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study.<br/>Participants<br/><br/>The sample included 998 participants (55% female) aged between 70 and 90, without a diagnosis of dementia at baseline.<br/>Measurements<br/><br/>Neuropsychological assessment of global cognition, self-reported depressive symptoms, and self-reported information about daily MA.<br/>Results<br/><br/>Cognitive functioning was positively associated with playing tabletop games and using the internet in both sexes at all time-points. MA were differentially linked in men and women. Depression was not consistently associated with MA in men across the three time-points; women who visited artistic events consistently had lower depression scores.<br/>Conclusions<br/><br/>Engaging with tabletop games and using the internet was associated with better cognition in both sexes, however sex acted as a modifier for other associations. These findings are useful for future investigations that consider interactive associations between MA, cognition, and mental health in older adults, and their possible roles in promoting healthy aging.<br/><br/>}},
  author       = {{Hopkins, Ella G. and Leman, Patrick J. and Cervin, Matti and Numbers, Katya and Brodaty, Henry and Kochan, Nicole and Sachdev, Perminder S. and Medvedev, Oleg N.}},
  issn         = {{1879-1379}},
  keywords     = {{Network analysis; Mental activities; Older adults; Cognition; Depression}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  pages        = {{113--122}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Psychiatric Research}},
  title        = {{Network of mental activities, cognitive function and depression in older men and women}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.030}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.030}},
  volume       = {{162}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}