The impact of volunteering on cognition and cognitive decline in older diverse cohorts: KHANDLE and STAR.

INTRODUCTION: Volunteering is linked to cognitive benefits in aging, but evidence in diverse populations is limited. METHODS: We examined volunteering and cognition in Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences Study/Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans participants (N = 2789) with unimpaired cognition at baseline. Volunteering and frequency of volunteering in the past year at baseline were self-reported, and cognition (executive function [EF], verbal episodic memory [VEM]) was assessed with the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scale across 4 waves (range of follow-up: 2-6 years). Linear mixed-effect models adjusted for demographics. RESULTS: Participants were 73.8 ± 7.8 years on average; 62% women; 45% Black, 21% White, 18% Asian, and 17% Hispanic/Latin(x); and 47% reported volunteering. Volunteers had higher baseline EF and VEM than non-volunteers, with the largest gains among those volunteering a few times per week. Volunteering was not associated with rates of cognitive decline. DISCUSSION: Volunteering was associated with better baseline cognition but not slower decline, suggesting immediate cognitive benefits for racially and ethnically diverse older adults. HIGHLIGHTS: Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences Study and Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans are a racially/ethnically diverse cohort (18% Asian, 47% Black, 17% Latin[x], 21% White) reporting volunteering within 12 months prior to baseline. Late-life (55+ years) volunteering is associated with better executive function (β = 0.173, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.114-0.232) and verbal episodic memory (β = 0.132, 95% CI: 0.071-0.192) after adjusting for age, gender/sex, education, race/ethnicity, instrumental activities of daily living, and self-rated health. Volunteering in late life, a few times per week, is associated with the highest magnitude of executive function (β = 0.216, 95% CI: 0.128-0.305) and once per week with verbal episodic memory (β = 0.189, 95% CI: 0.082-0.297) versus no volunteering, but the magnitude did not increase with more frequent volunteering. Those who volunteered had similar domain-specific cognitive decline compared to those who did not.

Duke Scholars

Author Marianne Chanti-Ketterl Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neur ...