The Relationship Between Sexual Activity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults.

Abstract Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia, and its prevalence is increasing with an aging population. Previous research highlights protective factors such as physical activity and social engagement and suggested a possible association between sexual activity and better cognition in older adults. This cross-sectional study used data from 508 participants in the SNAC-B cohort to investigate the relationship between sexual activity and cognitive function, controlling for age, education, BMI, and well-being. Multiple linear regression showed no significant association between sexual activity and cognitive function (MMSE), while older age and lower self-rated well-being were significant predictors. The findings underscore the complexity of these relationships and the need for longitudinal research to clarify causality. Aim The aim of this study is to investigate the association between sexual activity and the preservation of cognitive abilities of older adults, while accounting for potential confounding factors that may influence this relationship. Method A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted using data from 508 participants in SNAC-Blekinge, collected at a single time point between 2019 and 2024. Results The main analysis, a multiple linear regression with cognitive function (MMSE) as outcome, showed no statistically significant association between sexual activity in the past year and cognitive function when adjusting for relevant covariates. Conclusion The results show that sexual activity is not significantly associated with cognitive function of older adults, whereas age and self-rated well-being are important factors to consider Keywords Sexual activity, intimacy, cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia disorders, MMSE, older adult population, neurogenesis, BMI, hormonal influence.