title: Leisure activity, health, and medical correlates of neurocognitive performance among monozygotic twins: the Older Australian Twins Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to examine associations between each of three leisure activities (Cognitive, Physical, and Social) and performance in selected cognitive domains (Speed, Memory, Verbal ability, and Executive functions) and global cognition. We also aimed to explore associations between medical and health factors and late-life cognition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our sample comprised 119 pairs of monozygotic twins from the Older Australian Twins Study. Their mean age was 71 years and 66% were women. We used a discordant co-twin design, with cognitive performance measures as dependent variables and leisure activities as independent variables. Multiple regression analyses were performed, adjusting for potentially relevant medical and health factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discordance in Cognitive Activity and Social Activity participation was positively associated with discordance in performance on some cognitive domains. There were no associations between Physical Activity participation and cognition. Discordance in several cardiovascular, frailty, and sensory variables was associated with discordance in cognitive performance measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified lifestyle and health-related influences on late-life cognition. Our findings not only help in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms, they also have practical implications for interventions to prevent or slow age-related cognitive decline.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, Australia. Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. teresa.lee@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lipnicki
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, Australia. Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Julian N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Trollor
authors.affiliation: National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. University of Melbourne Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. George's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, Australia. Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Perminder S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sachdev
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Aging; Cognition; Health; Leisure activity; Twins.