Activity engagement and cognitive function among chinese older adults: moderating roles of gender and age

Abstract

Background: Many studies have found that engaging in activities, including physical exercise, social interaction, and cognitive training, is beneficial for preventing cognitive decline among older adults; however, the demographic differences in the association between activity engagement and cognitive functions remain understudied. This study investigates: (a) the influence of activity engagement on cognitive functions among Chinese older adults, and (b) the moderating roles of age and gender in these associations. Methods: The data were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2018, which included 9803 participants aged 60 or older. A multiple regression model was used to test the study hypotheses. Results: Engaging in physical activity (b = 1.578, p