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Intellectual activity and likelihood of subsequently improving or maintaining instrumental activities of daily living functioning in community‐dwelling older Japanese: a longitudinal study
Author(s) -
Fujiwara Yoshinori,
Chaves Paulo H. M.,
Yoshida Hiroto,
Amano Hidenori,
Fukaya Taro,
Watanabe Naoki,
Nishi Mariko,
Lee Sangyoon,
Uchida Hayato,
Shinkai Shoji
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.2148
Subject(s) - activities of daily living , gerontology , longitudinal study , observational study , confounding , psychology , independent living , intellectual disability , medicine , demography , psychiatry , pathology , sociology
Objective To test the a priori hypothesis that increase or maintenance of the level of cognitive activity would be independently associated with a subsequent beneficial impact (i.e. improvement or maintenance) on instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) functioning. Methods Observational study using 4‐year longitudinal data from 1477 community‐dwelling Japanese who were 66 years and older and living in Yoita town, a rural community located in the northwest along the Sea of Japan. Baseline assessment occurred in November 2000. Intellectual Activity and IADL were evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) Index of Competence. Results Increase or maintenance of exposure to intellectual activities over a period of 2 years was associated with increased likelihood of better IADL functioning trajectory (i.e. improvement or stability) over the subsequent 2 years (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.03–2.56; p = 0.035), even after adjustment for major confounders. Conclusion This study documented a longitudinal, independent association of exposure to intellectual activities with better IADL functioning over time. These findings provide preliminary support for promotion of exposure to intellectual activities among older adults as an opportunity to prevent disability in the older segment of the population. Assessment of public health programs targeting such an opportunity is warranted. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.