Hayley Guiney1,2, Michael Keall3, Liana Machado1,2. 1. Department of Psychology and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago , Dunedin, New Zealand. 2. Brain Research New Zealand , Auckland, New Zealand. 3. Department of Public Health, University of Otago , Wellington, New Zealand.
Abstract
Introduction: Given evidence that activity engagement in older adulthood can have protective effects on the aging brain, we investigated the idea that volunteering in the community, which often encompasses social, cognitive, and physical activity, might benefit cognition. Method: Ninety-one retired 65- to 75-year-olds reported their sociodemographic characteristics, wellbeing, volunteering, and activity engagement. They also completed computerized cognitive tests that tapped specific functions known to decline disproportionately with age. Results: Volunteering at least monthly was associated with better working memory and more social and cognitive activity. Mediation analyses indicated that volunteering was indirectly related to switching performance via cognitive activity. However, the volunteering-working memory association did not depend on activity engagement, leaving the underpinning mechanisms unclear. Conclusions: These findings provide new insight into positive associations between older people's volunteering, activity engagement, and cognitive functioning. However, further work is needed to understand the mechanisms that drive volunteering-cognition links, and to establish causality.
Introduction: Given evidence that activity engagement in older adulthood can have protective effects on the aging brain, we investigated the idea that volunteering in the community, which often encompasses social, cognitive, and physical activity, might benefit cognition. Method: Ninety-one retired 65- to 75-year-olds reported their sociodemographic characteristics, wellbeing, volunteering, and activity engagement. They also completed computerized cognitive tests that tapped specific functions known to decline disproportionately with age. Results: Volunteering at least monthly was associated with better working memory and more social and cognitive activity. Mediation analyses indicated that volunteering was indirectly related to switching performance via cognitive activity. However, the volunteering-working memory association did not depend on activity engagement, leaving the underpinning mechanisms unclear. Conclusions: These findings provide new insight into positive associations between older people's volunteering, activity engagement, and cognitive functioning. However, further work is needed to understand the mechanisms that drive volunteering-cognition links, and to establish causality.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cognition; productive activities; successful aging; volunteerism; working memory
Authors: Eva Serrat-Graboleda; Mònica González-Carrasco; Ferran Casas Aznar; Sara Malo Cerrato; David Cámara Liebana; Marta Roqueta-Vall-Llosera Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-22 Impact factor: 3.390