Social Participation and Cognitive Function in Community-dwelling Elderly─Evaluation of Social Activities and Social Network─

Yoko Konagaya¹⁾, Tomoyuki Watanabe²⁾, Masaaki Konagaya³⁾

¹⁾Division of Research, Obu Dementia Care Research and Training Center
²⁾Faculty of Psychological and Physical Science, Aichi Gakuin University
³⁾National Hospital Organization, Suzuka Hospital

The multiple factors that influenced to the cognitive function have been reported, in which we focused on social participation, including social activities such as work or volunteer, and social network. We examined the relationship between social participation and the cognitive function of 2,972 community-dwelling elderly. Social activities and social network as well as economic condition or psychological condition were assessed in logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, education, and other covariates. Doing housework, caregiving, learning, and get along with fellows, satisfied with friendship were related to better cognitive function. Also, who can afford to spend money, have some hobbies, read newspaper or books showed better cognitive function. The results confirm that higher level of social participation in elderly is related to the better cognitive function.

Address correspondence to Dr. Yoko Konagaya, Division of Research, Obu Dementia Care Research and Training Center (3-294 Hantsuki-cho, Obu, Aichi 474-0037, Japan)