| | objectives : Few longitudinal studies have explored age-related differences in the relationship between lifestyle factors and
cognitive decline. This study investigated lifestyle factors at baseline that slow the longitudinal rate of cognitive decline in
young-old (55-64 years), middle-old (65-74 years), and old-old (75+ years) individuals. | | Methods : We conducted an 11-year follow-up that included 6,189 older adults from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ag
ing, which is a cohort study of community-dwelling older Koreans. Lifestyle factors, including physical activity, social activity
(SA), smoking, and alcohol consumption were assessed at baseline. Cognitive function was measured at 2-year intervals over
11 years. Latent growth modeling and multi-group analysis were performed. | | Results : The influence of lifestyle factors on the rate of cognitive decline differed by age. Smoking at baseline (-0.05; 95%
confidence interval [CI], -0.11 to -0.00, per study wave) accelerated cognitive decline in young-old individuals, whereas fre
quent participation in SA at baseline (0.02; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.03, per study wave) decelerated cognitive decline in middle-old in
dividuals. None of the lifestyle factors in this study decelerated cognitive decline in old-old individuals. | | Conclusions : Cognitive strategies based on modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation in young-old individuals
and frequent SA participation in middle-old age individuals may have great potential for preventing cognitive decline. Because
the influence of lifestyle factors varied by age group, age-specific approaches are recommended to promote cognitive health. |
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