Sexual activity and cognitive decline in older age: a prospective cohort study.
Cognitive function
ELSA
Older adults
Sexual activity
Journal
Aging clinical and experimental research
ISSN: 1720-8319
Titre abrégé: Aging Clin Exp Res
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 101132995
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jan 2020
Jan 2020
Historique:
received:
16
07
2019
accepted:
19
08
2019
pubmed:
9
9
2019
medline:
2
4
2020
entrez:
9
9
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
To explore the association between sexual activity and change in cognitive function over 4 years in a representative sample of older adults in England. Data were from 1963 men and 2513 women participating in Wave 6 (2012/2013) and Wave 8 (2016/2017) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants reported whether or not they had engaged in any sexual activity in the last year. Cognitive function was assessed with tests of immediate and delayed recall. Adjusted general linear models were used to test associations between sexual activity and changes in cognitive function. Men who were sexually active at baseline had better preservation in immediate (0.18 points, 95% CI 0.07-0.29, p = 0.002) and delayed recall (0.19 points, 95% CI 0.08-0.29, p = 0.001) over 4-year follow-up. No significant associations were observed for women. Strengths of this study include large, representative sample, longitudinal design and adjustment for a wide range of potential confounders. The observational nature of our study means we cannot deduce the exact direction of effect of our findings. In addition, cognitive ability test scores in older people may reflect not only a possible decline, but also their peak prior cognitive ability; but we did not have any information regarding the trajectories of their cognitive function during the lifespan. Health practitioners should be encouraged to screen older men relating to their sexual activity to identify those who may be at risk of cognitive decline. Older men will be heartened to know that sexual activity may aid in the prevention of age-related decline in cognition.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
To explore the association between sexual activity and change in cognitive function over 4 years in a representative sample of older adults in England.
METHODS
METHODS
Data were from 1963 men and 2513 women participating in Wave 6 (2012/2013) and Wave 8 (2016/2017) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants reported whether or not they had engaged in any sexual activity in the last year. Cognitive function was assessed with tests of immediate and delayed recall. Adjusted general linear models were used to test associations between sexual activity and changes in cognitive function.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Men who were sexually active at baseline had better preservation in immediate (0.18 points, 95% CI 0.07-0.29, p = 0.002) and delayed recall (0.19 points, 95% CI 0.08-0.29, p = 0.001) over 4-year follow-up. No significant associations were observed for women.
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
Strengths of this study include large, representative sample, longitudinal design and adjustment for a wide range of potential confounders. The observational nature of our study means we cannot deduce the exact direction of effect of our findings. In addition, cognitive ability test scores in older people may reflect not only a possible decline, but also their peak prior cognitive ability; but we did not have any information regarding the trajectories of their cognitive function during the lifespan.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Health practitioners should be encouraged to screen older men relating to their sexual activity to identify those who may be at risk of cognitive decline. Older men will be heartened to know that sexual activity may aid in the prevention of age-related decline in cognition.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31494914
doi: 10.1007/s40520-019-01334-z
pii: 10.1007/s40520-019-01334-z
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Observational Study
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM