Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income Communities
Watching TV is a highly prevalent leisure activity among older adults and, in many cases, the only leisure option of those living in low-income communities. While engaging in leisure activities have proven to protect older adults from cognitive decline, the effects of watching TV on cognition of thi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.628489/full |
| _version_ | 1819123587309633536 |
|---|---|
| author | Laís Fajersztajn Vanessa Di Rienzo Vanessa Di Rienzo Carina Akemi Nakamura Carina Akemi Nakamura Marcia Scazufca Marcia Scazufca |
| author_facet | Laís Fajersztajn Vanessa Di Rienzo Vanessa Di Rienzo Carina Akemi Nakamura Carina Akemi Nakamura Marcia Scazufca Marcia Scazufca |
| author_sort | Laís Fajersztajn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Watching TV is a highly prevalent leisure activity among older adults and, in many cases, the only leisure option of those living in low-income communities. While engaging in leisure activities have proven to protect older adults from cognitive decline, the effects of watching TV on cognition of this population is controversial in the literature. This study investigated the impact of watching TV on global cognitive function, immediate memory, verbal fluency, risk of dementia of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) in a cohort of older adults residents of socioeconomically deprived areas of São Paulo, Brazil. We used data from the São Paulo Aging & Health Study (SPAH). Participants aged 65 years or over, with no dementia diagnosis at baseline and who completed the 2-year follow-up assessment were included in this study (n = 1,243). Multivariable linear regression models were performed to assess the effect of watching TV on global cognitive function, immediate memory and verbal fluency. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk of developing dementia and aMCI. Models were controlled by cognitive performance at baseline, sociodemographic characteristics and functional status. Cognitive performance at baseline and follow-up were similar. Thirty-one participants were diagnosed with dementia, and 23 with aMCI 24 months after inclusion in the study. Watching TV did not show any positive or negative effect on global cognitive function, immediate memory, verbal fluency, risk of dementia and risk of aMCI. It is good news that watching TV did not predict the decline in cognition in elders. However, it is essential to increase opportunities for other leisure activities for low-income and low-educated older adults if we do consider that leisure activities protect cognition decline in older adults. In the coming decades, developing countries will experience the highest burden of dementia and more than fun, public policies to promote leisure activities might be a strategy to alleviate this burden shortly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:10:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b4f6532a05d4302ab680e48956720bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:10:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b4f6532a05d4302ab680e48956720bf2022-12-21T18:34:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952021-06-011210.3389/fneur.2021.628489628489Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income CommunitiesLaís Fajersztajn0Vanessa Di Rienzo1Vanessa Di Rienzo2Carina Akemi Nakamura3Carina Akemi Nakamura4Marcia Scazufca5Marcia Scazufca6Laboratório de Poluição Ambiental, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilFaculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, BrazilFaculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Investigação Medica (LIM) 23, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilFaculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Investigação Medica (LIM) 23, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWatching TV is a highly prevalent leisure activity among older adults and, in many cases, the only leisure option of those living in low-income communities. While engaging in leisure activities have proven to protect older adults from cognitive decline, the effects of watching TV on cognition of this population is controversial in the literature. This study investigated the impact of watching TV on global cognitive function, immediate memory, verbal fluency, risk of dementia of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) in a cohort of older adults residents of socioeconomically deprived areas of São Paulo, Brazil. We used data from the São Paulo Aging & Health Study (SPAH). Participants aged 65 years or over, with no dementia diagnosis at baseline and who completed the 2-year follow-up assessment were included in this study (n = 1,243). Multivariable linear regression models were performed to assess the effect of watching TV on global cognitive function, immediate memory and verbal fluency. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk of developing dementia and aMCI. Models were controlled by cognitive performance at baseline, sociodemographic characteristics and functional status. Cognitive performance at baseline and follow-up were similar. Thirty-one participants were diagnosed with dementia, and 23 with aMCI 24 months after inclusion in the study. Watching TV did not show any positive or negative effect on global cognitive function, immediate memory, verbal fluency, risk of dementia and risk of aMCI. It is good news that watching TV did not predict the decline in cognition in elders. However, it is essential to increase opportunities for other leisure activities for low-income and low-educated older adults if we do consider that leisure activities protect cognition decline in older adults. In the coming decades, developing countries will experience the highest burden of dementia and more than fun, public policies to promote leisure activities might be a strategy to alleviate this burden shortly.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.628489/fulldementiamild cognitive impairmentolder adultsleisure activitieslow-incometelevision |
| spellingShingle | Laís Fajersztajn Vanessa Di Rienzo Vanessa Di Rienzo Carina Akemi Nakamura Carina Akemi Nakamura Marcia Scazufca Marcia Scazufca Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income Communities Frontiers in Neurology dementia mild cognitive impairment older adults leisure activities low-income television |
| title | Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income Communities |
| title_full | Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income Communities |
| title_fullStr | Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income Communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income Communities |
| title_short | Watching TV and Cognition: The SPAH 2-Year Cohort Study of Older Adults Living in Low-Income Communities |
| title_sort | watching tv and cognition the spah 2 year cohort study of older adults living in low income communities |
| topic | dementia mild cognitive impairment older adults leisure activities low-income television |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.628489/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laisfajersztajn watchingtvandcognitionthespah2yearcohortstudyofolderadultslivinginlowincomecommunities AT vanessadirienzo watchingtvandcognitionthespah2yearcohortstudyofolderadultslivinginlowincomecommunities AT vanessadirienzo watchingtvandcognitionthespah2yearcohortstudyofolderadultslivinginlowincomecommunities AT carinaakeminakamura watchingtvandcognitionthespah2yearcohortstudyofolderadultslivinginlowincomecommunities AT carinaakeminakamura watchingtvandcognitionthespah2yearcohortstudyofolderadultslivinginlowincomecommunities AT marciascazufca watchingtvandcognitionthespah2yearcohortstudyofolderadultslivinginlowincomecommunities AT marciascazufca watchingtvandcognitionthespah2yearcohortstudyofolderadultslivinginlowincomecommunities |