This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire PubMed PubMed Citation

Healthy Cognitive Aging and Leisure Activities Among the Oldest Old in Japan: Takashima Study

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis.
² Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
⁴ Department of Health Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan.
⁵ Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
⁶ School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Japan.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.

Address correspondence to Hiroko Dodge, PhD, 260 Waldo Hall, Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97401. E-mail: dodge{at}ohsu.edu

Background. Little is known regarding the normative levels of leisure activities among the oldest old and the factors that explain the age-associated decline in these activities.

Methods. The sample included 303 cognitively intact community-dwelling elderly persons with no disability in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and minimal dependency in Instrumental ADL (IADL) in Shiga prefecture, Japan. We examined (i) the nature and frequency of leisure activities, comparing the oldest old versus younger age groups; (ii) factors that explain the age-associated differences in frequencies of engagement in these activities; and (iii) domain-specific cognitive functions associated with these activities, using three summary index scores: physical and nonphysical hobby indexes and social activity index.

Results. The oldest old (85 years old or older) showed significantly lower frequency scores in all activity indexes, compared with the youngest old (age 65–74 years). Gait speed or overall mobility consistently explained the age-associated reduction in levels of activities among the oldest old, whereas vision or hearing impairment and depressive symptoms explained only the decline in social activity. Frequency of engagement in nonphysical hobbies was significantly associated with all cognitive domains examined.

Conclusions. Knowing the factors that explain age-associated decline in leisure activities can help in planning strategies for maintaining activity levels among elderly persons.

Key Words: Oldest old • Normative data • Leisure activities • Healthy aging • Japanese cohort • Takashima Study

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. J. Willcox, D. C. Willcox, and L. Ferrucci Secrets of Healthy Aging and Longevity From Exceptional Survivors Around the Globe: Lessons From Octogenarians to Supercentenarians J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., November 1, 2008; 63(11): 1181 - 1185. [Full Text] [PDF]