Community Cultural Engagement Associated with Lower Risk Of Dementia
Community Cultural Engagement Associated With Lower Risk Of Dementia
We know that social factors, such as visiting museums, engaging in community groups, and being married or living with somebody, are protective against cognitive decline and the development of dementia. Studies have also shown that not having these social components in place, such as being isolated or feeling lonely, is associated with lower cognitive function, faster cognitive decline, and higher risk of dementia. But, is there any association between the type of community engagement and dementia, independent of the social components alone?
That’s what a study by Fancourt et al, published in the October 2019 issue of BMJ sought to evaluate. This study followed 9550 adults aged 50 years and older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing over a 12-year period. Participants were asked how often they engage in community cultural and group activities. Cultural activities included visiting museums, art galleries, going to the theatre, concerts, or the opera. Group engagement included participation in clubs and societies such as political groups, tenant associations, and neighborhood watch groups.
The study then followed participants over a 12-year period assessing the development of dementia. Of the 9550 study participants, 429 (4.5%) developed dementia.
This study demonstrated a positive protective association of community cultural engagement and the development of dementia, independent of a wide range of other social factors. Meaning that even when accounting for social factors that protect against dementia, community cultural engagement at a frequency of every few months or more, was consistently associated with a lower risk.
Other forms of community engagement, such as attending group meetings, did not have the same protective association as did attending cultural activities, when considering broader social factors. Meaning that although community group activities continued to demonstrate a positive association, there was an insignificant difference when accounting for the protective effects related to broader social factors.
The results of this study are supportive of the practice of social prescribing. According to this study, community cultural activities, such as visiting art galleries, museums, and going to the theater, consistently offer a protective effect, independent of social factors, that is not otherwise seen in some other types of community group engagement. This could be helpful information when considering what types of activities individuals participate in as part of their social prescribing plan to promote healthy cognitive ageing.
Key Takeaways:
Social factors have a known protective effect with regards to the development of dementia. Additionally, community cultural activities consistently demonstrate a protective association, independent of the broader social factors. A similar type of protective association was not found for some other types of community group engagement. Social prescribing of community cultural activities can be a tool to promote healthy cognitive ageing.
Reference:
Fancourt D, Steptoe A, Cadar D
Community engagement and dementia risk: time-to-event analyses from a national cohort study
J Epidemiol Community Health 2020;74:71-77.