Physical, social and productive leisure activities, cognitive decline and interaction with APOE-epsilon 4 genotype in Chinese older adults.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the combined and differential effects of physical, social and productive activities on cognitive decline and whether they were modified by the presence of the APOE-epsilon 4 allele.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study of 1635 community-dwelling Chinese older adults aged 55 or older participating in the ongoing Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study, physical, social and productive leisure activities were assessed at baseline, and cognitive decline (at least one point drop) in MMSE scores between baseline and follow-up after one year.


RESULTS
Cognitive decline was observed in 30% of the respondents. Controlling for age, gender, education and other risk factors, odds ratios (ORs) were significantly reduced in those with medium (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.45-0.79) and high activity levels (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.46-0.84). A stronger association was shown for productive activity (OR = 0.36), than for physical (OR = 0.78) and social activities (OR = 0.85). These associations showed statistically significant interactions with APOE genotype, being more pronounced in those with the APOE-epsilon 4 allele.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased leisure activity, especially productive activities more than physical or social activities, was associated with a lowered risk of cognitive decline. APOE-epsilon 4 genotype individuals appeared to be more vulnerable to the effects of low and high levels of leisure activities.
Niti
Matthew
M
Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Yap
Keng-Bee
KB
Kua
Ee-Heok
EH
Tan
Chay-Hoon
CH
Ng
Tze-Pin
TP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012919:Social Behavior
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4