24 Jun Lifetime Intellectual Enrichment Might Delay Cognitive Impairment

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prashanthi Vemur, Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota

MedicalResearch: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Vemuri: Lifetime intellectual enrichment might delay the onset of cognitive impairment and be used as a successful preventive intervention to reduce the impending dementia epidemic. We studied two non-overlapping components of lifetime intellectual enrichment: education/occupation-score and mid/late-life cognitive activity measure based on self-report questionnaires. Both were helpful in delaying the onset of cognitive impairment but the contribution of higher education/occupation was larger.

MedicalResearch: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Vemuri: We found that an individual with low education/occupation benefited more by engaging in high mid/late-life cognitive activity than an individual with high education/occupation.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Vemuri: A significant protection against cognitive impairment can be gained from engagement in high mid/late-life cognitive activity irrespective of the subject’s life-long non-leisure activity through education and occupation. Mid/late-life cognitive activity was helpful in delaying the onset of cognitive impairment by at least 3 years irrespective of the number years of education. High mid/late-life engagement in cognitively stimulating activities (75^th percentile) corresponded to engaging in several cognitively stimulating activities at least 3 times a week during mid/late-life. Examples of these activities include reading books and magazines, playing games and music, artistic activities, crafts, group activities, social activities, and computer activities.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Vemuri: Future reduction in the epidemic of dementia will come from public investments to increase access to education, better jobs and increasing the elderly engagement in cognitively stimulating activities.

Citation:

Vemuri P, Lesnick TG, Przybelski SA, et al. Association of Lifetime Intellectual Enrichment With Cognitive Decline in the Older Population. JAMA Neurol. Published online June 23, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.963.

Last Updated on June 24, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD