Table_1_Genes Versus Lifestyles: Exploring Beliefs About the Determinants of Cognitive Ageing.DOCX

Genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to cognitive ageing. However, the extent to which the public attribute changes in thinking skills to either genetic or lifestyle factors is largely unknown. This may be important if it impacts engagement in activities deemed beneficial to thinking skills. This study, therefore, explored people’s beliefs about determinants of cognitive ageing and whether those beliefs were associated with engagement in potentially beneficial behaviours. Data were collected through a United Kingdom-wide survey of people aged 40 and over. Participants completed questions about their beliefs regarding cognitive ageing, and specifically the extent to which they believed lifestyle or genetic factors influence those changes, and their engagement in specific behaviours that may be cognitively beneficial. Responses from 3,130 individuals (94.0% of the survey sample) were analysed using chi-square tests of independence, principal component analysis and ANCOVAs to investigate whether their attribution of genetic or lifestyle determinants were associated with their beliefs about cognitive ageing and their participation in brain health-related behaviours. Most respondents (62.2%) believed genes and lifestyle contribute equally to age-related changes in cognitive skills. Respondents who believed genetic factors were more influential were less likely to expect cognitive skills might be improved or maintained with age, less sure what behaviours might be associated with brain health, and less likely to engage in behaviours comprising mental challenge/novelty supported as beneficial for brain health. From this United Kingdom-wide survey about beliefs regarding potential determinants of cognitive ageing, some of our respondents’ views were not aligned with the findings from ageing research. It is important for the public to know how to keep their brains healthy. Our results indicate a need for clearer messaging highlighting the role of lifestyle factors for brain health.

遗传与生活方式因素均会影响认知老化（cognitive ageing）。然而，公众将认知能力变化归因于遗传因素或生活方式因素的具体程度，目前仍不明确。若此类归因情况影响公众参与被认为对认知能力有益的活动，则该议题的研究意义尤为突出。因此，本研究旨在探究公众对认知老化决定因素的认知情况，以及此类认知是否与潜在有益行为的参与度相关联。研究数据来源于一项覆盖全英国的、针对40岁及以上人群的问卷调查。受访者需完成相关问卷，内容涵盖其对认知老化的认知，具体包括其认为生活方式或遗传因素对认知能力变化的影响程度，以及自身参与各类可能对认知有益的特定行为的情况。本研究对3130名受访者（占有效样本的94.0%）的回复进行了分析，采用卡方独立性检验（chi-square tests of independence）、主成分分析（principal component analysis）以及协方差分析（ANCOVAs），以探究公众对遗传与生活方式因素作为认知老化决定因素的归因，是否与其对认知老化的相关认知以及脑健康相关行为的参与度存在关联。多数受访者（62.2%）认为，遗传与生活方式对年龄相关的认知能力变化的影响程度相当。认为遗传因素影响更大的受访者，更不倾向于认为认知能力可随年龄增长得到改善或维持，对与脑健康相关的行为认知也更为模糊，且参与被证实对脑健康有益的心理挑战与新颖体验类活动的概率更低。基于这项覆盖全英国的认知老化潜在决定因素认知调查，部分受访者的观点与老化研究的现有结论并不一致。公众了解如何维护脑健康至关重要。本研究结果显示，亟需通过更清晰的科普信息，强调生活方式因素在维护脑健康中的作用。