title: Leisure-activity participation to prevent later-life cognitive decline: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A systematic literature review was conducted to characterise the current state of knowledge concerning the definition, categorisation, and operationalisation of leisure activity in studies examining its possible role in preventing later-life cognitive decline. Following PRISMA guidelines for a systematic review, the study examined peer-reviewed empirical research publications focused on leisure activity, cognitive decline, and prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches in the PubMed/Medline reSEARCH, CINHAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsychoINFO, ERIC Proquest, the Cochrane library, and PsycARTICLES databases for the years 2000 to 2011 identified 52 publications for inclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results are discussed and based on these findings are further interpreted using the Model of Human Occupation, which focuses on key factors identified in the review that are salient to associations between participation in leisure activities and prevention of dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the findings support a growing consensus that participation in leisure activities might significantly contribute to prevention of dementia, it also identifies major hindrances to progress. Important limitations detected include a lack of theoretical underpinnings, and little consensus and standardisation in the measured key variables. The study reinforces the critical need to overcome these limitations to enable health care professionals (e.g. occupational therapists) to make evidence-based recommendations for increased participation in activities as a means of promoting health and preventing cognitive decline.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fallahpour
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borell
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden ;|b Wayne State University, Institute of Gerontology , Detroit , Michigan , United States.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luborsky
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nygård
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D008960:Models, Psychological
keywords: Cognitive decline; leisure activity; prevention; systematic review