What are the top-circulating magazines in the United States telling older adults about cognitive health?
There is growing evidence that healthy behaviors may promote cognitive health. The behaviors include physical activity, heart-healthy diets, and social engagement. Popular print media helps disseminate health information. This study examines the content focused on cognitive health in 5 top-circulating magazines marketed to older people in the United States. All pages (29,881 pages) of each magazine published in 2006 and 2007 were searched. There were 84 articles on cognitive health. Few were by health or science writers. Of the 58 articles on prevention, the contents focused primarily on diet and multiple behaviors, with less on physical activity or social engagement. Less than 20% provided resources to help readers obtain further information. Articles focused on physical activity, with information directing readers to credible resources, and by writers with health or science backgrounds, could enhance the quality of cognitive health communication in popular media.
Mathews
Anna E
AE
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA. AnnaEMathews@gmail.com
Laditka
Sarah B
SB
Laditka
James N
JN
Friedman
Daniela B
DB
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015706:Bibliometrics; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States