Cognitive Reserve, Leisure Activity, and Neuropsychological Profile in the Early Stage of Cognitive Decline

Abstract

In older adults with normal cognition, cognitive reserve (CR) is known to be associated with the neuropsychological profile. We investigated the association between comprehensive CR and detailed neuropsychological profile in the early stage of cognitive decline. Fifty-five participants with mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline completed the cognitive reserve index questionnaire (CRIq) that yielded total, education, working activity, and leisure time scores (CRI-Total, CRI-Education, CRI-Working activity, and CRI-Leisure time, respectively). Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and detailed neuropsychological evaluation were performed. Psychiatric symptom scales were applied to measure depression, apathy, positive or negative affect, and quality of life. Correlation and linear regression analyses of the variables were performed. The effect of CR-Education, CRI-Working activity, and CRI-Leisure time on the composite cognitive score was determined using a multivariable regression model. We observed that for CRI-Total (B = 3.00, p = 0.005), CRI-Education (B = 3.39, p = 0.002), and CRI-Leisure time (B = 2.56, p = 0.015), CR correlated with MMSE scores, while only CRI-Leisure time associated with the naming ability (B = 2.20, p = 0.033) in the detailed neuropsychological test results of the participants. Multivariable regression model also indicated that among CRI subscores, CRI-Leisure time directly affects the composite cognitive score (β = 0.32, p = 0.011). We found that in the early stage of cognitive decline in older adults, comprehensive CR was associated with global cognition, and only leisure activity was identified to be associated with the detailed neuropsychological profile including naming ability. These results may imply the positive effect of leisure activity on cognitive function in the early stages of cognitive decline.

Heterogeneity of effects of cognitive reserve on performance in probable Alzheimer’s disease and in subjective cognitive decline.

“…However, we found that a Life experience proxy of CR did potentially contribute to a compensation of cognitive performance in individuals with SCD. This is in line with recent studies reporting that the effect of CR is stronger for CR measures that quantify learning experiences occurring along with the lifespan (Bertoni et al, 2020; Lee et al, 2020).…”

Cognitive Reserve in Early Manifest Huntington Disease Patients: Leisure Time Is Associated with Lower Cognitive and Functional Impairment

“…Interestingly, we found that a higher leisure time was correlated with lesser cognitive and functional HD decline over time in early manifest HD subjects. Our findings are in line with the documented evidence of the beneficial effect of leisure activities on cognitive decline in the early stages of non-HD neurodegenerative diseases [38]. Leisure activities, that is, the time when a person is not working and can relax and do things that they enjoy (i.e., reading, theater, television, driving, internet, gardening, music etc.)…”

Cognition and Cognitive Reserve in Cochlear Implant Recipients

“…Lifestyle activities in midlife significantly contributed to cognitive ability in late-life, independent of education and occupation. This has also been described in patients with either subjective memory decline or those who were diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) ( Lee et al, 2020 ). Whereas the educational background was not correlated with a comprehensive cognitive assessment, leisure activities were mostly predictive for executive function and visuospatial abilities.…”