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Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

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Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that frequent participation in cognitively-stimulating activities, specifically those related to playing games and puzzles, is beneficial to brain health and cognition among middle-aged adults at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Three hundred twenty-nine cognitively normal, middle-aged adults (age range, 43.2–73.8 years) enrolled in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) participated in this study. They reported their current engagement in cognitive activities using a modified version of the Cognitive Activity Scale (CAS), underwent a structural MRI scan, and completed a comprehensive cognitive battery. FreeSurfer was used to derive gray matter (GM) volumes from AD-related regions of interest (ROIs), and composite measures of episodic memory and executive function were obtained from the cognitive tests. Covariate-adjusted least squares analyses were used to examine the association between the Games item on the CAS (CAS-Games) and both GM volumes and cognitive composites. Higher scores on CAS-Games were associated with greater GM volumes in several ROIs including the hippocampus, posterior cingulate, anterior cingulate, and middle frontal gyrus. Similarly, CAS-Games scores were positively associated with scores on the Immediate Memory, Verbal Learning & Memory, and Speed & Flexibility domains. These findings were not modified by known risk factors for AD. In addition, the Total score on the CAS was not as sensitive as CAS-Games to the examined brain and cognitive measures. For some individuals, participation in cognitive activities pertinent to game playing may help prevent AD by preserving brain structures and cognitive functions vulnerable to AD pathophysiology.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Caitlin A. Cleary, BSc, Sandra Harding, MS, Jennifer Bond, BA, and the WRAP psychometrists for assistance with study data collection. In addition, we gratefully acknowledge the support of researchers and staff at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, where the brain scans took place. Finally, we thank participants in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention for their continued dedication.

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute on Aging grants K23 AG045957 (OCO), R01 AG027161 (MAS), R01 AG021155 (SCJ), P50 AG033514 (SA), and P50 AG033514-S1 (OCO); by a Veterans Administration Merit Review Grant I01CX000165 (SCJ); and by a Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1RR025011) to the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Portions of this research were supported by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the Helen Bader Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Extendicare Foundation, and from the Veterans Administration including facilities and resources at the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center of the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI.

Conflict of interest

The authors indicate no potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Stephanie A. Schultz, Jordan Larson, Jennifer Oh, Catherine L. Gallagher, Cynthia M. Carlsson, Barbara B. Bendlin, Sanjay Asthana, Sterling C. Johnson & Ozioma C. Okonkwo

  2. Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Stephanie A. Schultz, Jordan Larson, Jennifer Oh, Maritza N. Dowling, Cynthia M. Carlsson, Howard A. Rowley, Barbara B. Bendlin, Sanjay Asthana, Bruce P. Hermann, Sterling C. Johnson, Mark Sager, Asenath LaRue & Ozioma C. Okonkwo

  3. Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Rebecca Koscik, Maritza N. Dowling, Barbara B. Bendlin, Sanjay Asthana, Bruce P. Hermann, Sterling C. Johnson, Mark Sager, Asenath LaRue & Ozioma C. Okonkwo

  4. Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Maritza N. Dowling

  5. Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Howard A. Rowley

  6. Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Catherine L. Gallagher & Bruce P. Hermann

  7. Department of Medicine and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53792, USA

    Ozioma C. Okonkwo

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  1. Stephanie A. Schultz
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  2. Jordan Larson
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Correspondence to Ozioma C. Okonkwo.

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Schultz, S.A., Larson, J., Oh, J. et al. Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Imaging and Behavior 9, 729–736 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5

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