Genes versus lifestyles: Exploring beliefs about the determinants of cognitive ageing

Objectives: Genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to cognitive ageing. This study explored people’s beliefs about determinants of cognitive ageing and whether those beliefs were associated with engagement in potentially beneficial behaviours. Methods: Data were collected through a UK-wide survey of people aged 40 and over. Responses from 3,130 individuals (94.0% of the survey sample) were analysed using chi-square tests of independence, principal component analysis and ANCOVAs. Results: Most respondents (62.2%) believed genes and lifestyle contribute equally to age-related changes in cognitive skills. Respondents who believed genetic factors were more influential were less likely to expect cognitive skills might be improved or maintained with age, less sure what behaviours might be associated with brain health, and less likely to engage in behaviours comprising mental challenge/novelty supported as beneficial for brain health. Conclusion: Our results indicate a need for clearer messaging highlighting the role of lifestyle factors for brain health

Personality and Cognitive Ability in Older Age: Investigating the Mediating Role of an Active and Healthy Lifestyle

Individual differences in personality have been associated with cognitive ability among older adults. Lifestyles and behaviours may partly account for reported links between traits and cognitive ability, but further research is needed to investigate these potential mechanisms. The present study investigated several possible indirect personality-cognition associations indicated by previous research: a) whether any positive association between Openness to Experience and cognitive ability was mediated by increased engagement in mentally stimulating leisure activities; b) whether any positive association between Conscientiousness and cognitive ability was mediated by more positive health-related behaviours; c) whether any negative association between Neuroticism and cognitive ability was mediated by lower levels of engagement in mentally/socially demanding activities, or less positive health-related behaviours. Three hundred and thirty-six adults aged 65 and over with no diagnosed cognitive impairments completed a cognitive battery and measures of personality, activity engagement and health-related behaviours (physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption and smoking history). Cross-sectional analyses revealed that Openness was positively associated with verbal ability and visuospatial ability, while Neuroticism and Extraversion were negatively associated with verbal ability, visuospatial ability and visual memory. Conscientiousness was negatively associated with working memory ability. Additional analyses tested whether the association between Openness and verbal ability was mediated by mental activity engagement, and whether the associations between Neuroticism and both visuospatial ability and visual memory were mediated by lifetime smoking history. None of these indirect associations were significant. Thus, no evidence was found to support the hypothesised lifestyle factors as mediators of the personality-cognition associations

Older adults’ experiences of taking up a new community-based leisure activity to promote brain health: A focus group study

Background and objectives: An active and engaged lifestyle is supported as being beneficial for brain health. Activities comprising physical, mental and social demands, or combinations of those, are of particular interest, and have been the focus of specific interventions. Exploring how older people engage with such community-based activities, including facilitators and barriers to participation, may help improve the success of future translational activities. Research design and methods: Twenty-seven older adults aged 65-86 (56% female) who had completed an activity-based intervention study participated in three focus groups. Discussions explored their experiences of taking up a new activity, including facilitators and barriers to their engagement, and their perceptions of any benefits. Results: Thematic analysis grouped participants’ responses into five themes: positive aspects and facilitators of engagement in a new activity; challenges and barriers to engagement; ageing being a facilitator and a barrier to engagement; differential effects of activities on participants’ health and wellbeing; and general project feedback (including opinions on study design). Discussion and implications: Participants’ experiences and expectations included positive (e.g., enjoyment, socialisation) and negative factors (e.g., lack of confidence, other commitments, class costs and poor structure), consistent with previous research on social participation and engaging with new learning opportunities. Future studies should also consider those who do not readily participate in leisure activities to address earlier barriers. It is important that older adults have access to potentially beneficial activities and local authorities should prioritise increasing their provision