title: [Correlation of mental activity with cognitive functions  in mild cognitive impairment and early stage dementia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mental activities have been suggested to influence the risk and course of dementia. This study was performed in order to assess the association of various mental activities with diagnosis and cognitive functions in an elderly population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 191 memory clinic patients (mean age 71.7 ± 10.7 years) were included in this study. Participants completed a standardized neuropsychological test battery, a clinical interview, and a semistructured interview to assess mental activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 191 patients, 39 were diagnosed as cognitively intact, 72 had mild cognitive impairment, and 80 mild Alzheimer's disease. Group comparisons of mental activity scores revealed differences for the variables art, culture, media consumption, travelling, and cognitive activities. Correlation analysis showed a significant association of culture, media consumption, travelling, and cognitive activities with cognitive functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that mental activities may influence the extent of cognitive impairment and possibly the risk for Alzheimer's disease.
authors: Universitätsklinik für Allgemeine und Sozialpsychiatrie, Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich, michaela.defrancesco@i-med.ac.at.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Defrancesco
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Kemmler
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Huber
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Deisenhammer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D013850:Thinking