title: Cognitive activities and cognitive performance in middle-aged adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Cognitive activity is thought to provide some protection against dementia, but the mechanism and timing of these effects are unknown. Data for this study were drawn from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP), an at-risk middle-aged sample (mean age = 54 years) enriched for parental family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We had two main aims: (a) to determine the relative contribution of three facets of cognitive activity-education, occupational complexity with data, and cognitive leisure activities-to WRAP participants' cognitive performance; and (b) to assess for interactions between genetic risk factors and cognitive activity in explaining cognitive performance. Results from mixed effects models indicate that some of the variance usually attributed to education may be more closely accounted for by cognitive activities later in life. Overall, our analyses suggest cautious optimism for cognitive activities, especially game playing, as a strategy for preserving cognitive strengths in midlife.
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jonaitis
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Asenath
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Rue
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Kimberly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Koscik
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D058245:Cognitive Reserve / Q000502:physiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013850:Thinking
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E