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A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Change in Church Activity with Cognitive, Functional, and Mental Health Among Black and White Older Adults
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Change in Church Activity with Cognitive, Functional, and Mental Health Among Black and White Older Adults

Katherine C. Britt, Fanghong Dong, Jill B. Hamilton, Lauren Massimo, Nancy Hodgson, Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton and Shana D. Stites
Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra
02/27/2026
DOI: 10.1159/000551303
url
https://doi.org/10.1159/000551303View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Introduction. Stable religious participation may have beneficial contributions to cognitive and mental health; however, less is known about how changes in religious participation, such as disengagement or increased engagement in church activities, affect these health outcomes and whether there are differences between racial groups. This study aimed to examine the association between changes in church activity and cognitive, functional, and mental health in older adults, and explore differences by race. Methods. Using data from the University of Pennsylvania Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Aging Brain Cohort in 2021-2022, we examined associations between self-reported change in church activity with cognitive and functional health (Global Clinical Dementia Score (CDR) and total CDR) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory) in cognitively normal older adults (n=158). We used multivariable regression analysis, controlling for self-reported age, sex, education, and social interaction, to examine differences between individuals who identified as either Black or White. Results. Controlling for covariates, Black participants who reported substantially more or less church activity in the last year had lower cognition and function (Global CDR, β = 0.19, 95%CI [0.04, 0.34], p<0.05) and Total CDR (β = 0.30, 95% CI [0.01, 0.58], p = 0.042), and more neuropsychiatric symptoms (β = 0.63, 95% CI [0.02, 1.24], p<0.045). No significance was found in White older adults. Black older adults reporting major changes in church activity experienced lower cognitive, functional, and mental health. Conclusion. To explore if church activity changes could be an early sign of cognitive, functional, and mental health decline, longitudinal studies are needed.

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