Public Perspective and Engagement in Cognitive- Stimulation Activity to Preserve Cognitive Reserve among Seniors in Malaysia - A Pilot Study.

The loss of cognitive capability is a serious problem affecting the elderly population globally. This study aimed to determine different perspectives on cognitive stimulating activity and the engagement in different types of cognitive stimulating activity in order to preserving cognitive reserve among the elderly in Malaysia. CRI questionnaire and IQCODE had been used to assess the level of cognitive reserve in a lifetime and cognitive decline in the elderly, respectively. Data analysis was done using the SPSS 18.0 version, t-test analysis and Pearson's correlation. Result showed that, the group aged between 61 and 65 also exhibited higher CRI education (F=6.41, p<0.05), CRI leisure time (F=25.72, p<0.01) and CRI working activity (F=43.61, p<0.01) than the other two groups. Participants aged up to 60 years had higher CRI score (M=109.49, SD=15.20) than those aged up to 65 years (M=99.35, SD=11.45) as well as those aged up to 70 years (M=90.51, SD=16.13). All the post-hoc comparisons were significant at 0.05 level, where F=34.7 and p<0.001. In conclusion, results revealed that the adults who participate in brain stimulation activities such as reading magazines and exercise have reduced chances of developing cognitive related conditions. Elderly people who were found to have worked on the professional and intellectual jobs have low chances of developing cognitive problems than those in unskilled manual jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]