The Effect of Religion and Spirituality on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review

The Gerontologist
Shera HosseiniMark Oremus

Abstract

The maintenance of cognitive health is an important component of healthy aging. Abnormal cognitive decline can signal the onset of dementing disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Normal cognitive decline can also adversely affect the health of aging populations. We investigated the association between religious/spiritual involvement (R/SI) and cognitive function in adults of any age and any setting. We also examined whether social engagement acts as a mediator or moderator of the effect of R/SI on cognitive function, and whether the association between R/SI and cognitive function differs according to how each of these constructs is measured. We conducted a systematic review of articles published between 1990 and September 2016 by searching OVID MEDLINE, PSYCHINFO, EMBASE, and Google Advanced Search. We included studies with a comparison group (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) that reported on R/SI (exposure) and cognitive function (outcome). Of the 6,300 citations obtained in the literature search, 17 met our eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Most of the included studies (82%) reported positive associations between R/SI and cognitive function. R/SI appears to be protective against cognitive decli...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 9, 2020·Research on Aging·Terrence D HillBenjamin Dowd-Arrow
Jun 28, 2018·Quality of Life Research : an International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation·Hawa O AbuCatarina I Kiefe
Feb 9, 2021·Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD·Dharma Singh Khalsa, Andrew B Newberg
Mar 1, 2021·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Andrea K HendersonJennifer A Ailshire
Aug 10, 2021·Journal of Religion and Health·Piotr GronekPaulina Wycichowska
Sep 10, 2021·Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition. Section B, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition·Shera HosseiniMark Oremus
Sep 19, 2021·Journal of Religion and Health·Syazwan Nazri AmirNur Adilah Shuhada Abd Aziz

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