{"id":210452,"date":"2025-02-07T15:10:53","date_gmt":"2025-02-08T01:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=210452"},"modified":"2025-02-10T08:27:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T18:27:52","slug":"cognitive-health-older-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/07\/cognitive-health-older-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"How genetics, lifestyle promote cognitive health in older adults"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>

\"Caregiver<\/p>\n

For the first time, University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa researchers have studied how work, volunteering and leisure activities affect brain health in older adults from diverse backgrounds, while also factoring in a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer\u2019s disease. The study, led by the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health<\/a>, shows that staying active can help keep the mind sharp with age.<\/p>\n

The study is led by Yeonjung Jane Lee, associate professor of social work, and was published in the Journal of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Reports<\/em><\/a>. Researchers examine the connection between these activities and cognitive functioning, with a focus on the apolipoprotein E (APOE<\/abbr>) ε4 allele\u2014a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer\u2019s disease, using data from more than 7,600 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey. <\/p>\n

Key findings<\/h2>\n

The study found that working, volunteering and engaging in activities like word games, computer use and socializing improved cognitive health for everyone. However, the benefits depended on genetics. For those without the APOE<\/abbr> ε4 allele, part-time work and high-intensity volunteering were most effective. <\/p>\n

“Even if someone has the APOE<\/abbr> ε4 allele, modifiable factors like cognitively stimulating activities can promote cognitive health,” said Lee. “These findings highlight how integrating such activities into older adults\u2019 lives can support aging well.”<\/p>\n

Researchers emphasize the importance of offering accessible activities and resources at the structural level to help reduce the impact of Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other dementias, particularly in diverse populations.<\/p>\n

The research was supported by the Kuakini Center of Biomedical Research Excellence-Center for Translational Research on Aging, directed by Bradley Willcox, a geriatric medicine researcher at the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Work, volunteering and leisure activities are associated with better cognitive health in older adults, even for those at genetic risk for Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[1133,970,1363,158,244,596,9],"class_list":["post-210452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-aging","tag-center-on-aging","tag-manoa-research","tag-publication","tag-social-work","tag-myron-b-thompson-school-of-social-work","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t