Abstract

FELDBERG, Carolina et al. The Role of Leisure Activities in the Cognitive Reserve of Seniors. Av. Psicol. Latinoam. [online]. 2022, vol.40, n.1, 2.  Epub Sep 26, 2023. ISSN 1794-4724.  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.10954.

Participation in cognitively demanding leisure activities can prevent cognitive decline. The objective of the present work is to analyze through a structural equation model (SEM) the relative weight that participation in leisure time activities has in three cognitive domains: episodic verbal memory, language executive functions, and attentional functions in self-validated seniors. A path analysis was carried out using the SEM in 167 elderly participants (M = 72.34 years, SD = 5.07 years), independent in activities of daily living. All the participants were evaluated with a sociodemographic data questionnaire, a social participation questionnaire, and a neuropsychological battery of neuropsychological tests frequently used in the clinical setting for memory, language, attentional functions, and executive functions. The results obtained indicate that the activities factor shows significant effects on the executive functions factor (P = .45, p < .001, R2 = .20), also on the memory factor (P = .38, p <. 001, R2 = .14), as well as on the language factor (P = .45, p < .001, R2 = .20) and the attentional functions factor (P = .44, p = .03, R2 = .20). These results coincide with those of other studies that indicate that leisure activities could play a differential and important role in the construction of cognitive reserve throughout the life cycle, forming a possible cognitive protection factor in the aging process.

Keywords : Aging; cognitive reserve; cognition; leisure activities.

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