Metrics details. Cognitive leisure activity, such as reading, playing mahjong or cards and computer use, is common among older adults in China. Previous studies suggest a negative correlation between cognitive leisure activity and cognitive impairment.
However, the relationship between cognitive leisure activity and all-cause mortality has rarely been reported. This study aims to explore the relationships between cognitive leisure activity and all-cause mortality in a community-based older people cohort in China. Reading, playing mahjong or cards and computer use were measured by questionnaires and summed into a cognitive leisure activity index CLAI score. Time-Dependent Cox Regression Model and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to examine the association of cognitive leisure activity with all-cause mortality.
During the 4-year follow-up of participants, 5. Of all participants, Cognitive leisure activity was positively associated with reduced risk of death from all cause among the older people in major city of China, which helped promote a comprehensive understanding of health characteristics at advanced ages.
Peer Review reports. The older population has been increasing worldwide, presenting a major challenge to the health and social care system. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide [ 1 ]. Many studies have implicated lifestyle risk behaviour, such as smoking [ 2 ], alcohol use [ 3 ] and physical inactivity [ 4 ], in adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, some cancers, and mortality [ 5 ].
Hence, substantial disease, mortality, and economic burden could be prevented through modification of lifestyle behaviours [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Cognitive leisure activity, such as computer use, reading and playing mahjong or cards [ 9 , 10 , 11 ], is a type of modifiable lifestyle behaviour and popular in older adults especially retired people in China. In the past few years, the positive association between cognitive leisure activity and good cognitive function has been reported.
