Takes Two to Tango: Cognitive Impairment and Sexual Activity in Older Individuals and Dyads.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This article examines the association between cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia (ED), and sexual activity in a large, longitudinal sample of community-dwelling older adults. We focus here on sexual activity, which includes both sexual activity with a partner and masturbation.

Methods

We analyzed 3,777 older individuals and members of 955 intimate dyads using the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (2010 and 2015). We used ordered probit regression, cross-lagged panels models, and probit regression.

Results

We find that older adults with cognitive limitations, either MCI or ED, are about as likely to be sexually active with a partner as those with normal cognitive function. This is the case both in

SUBMITTER: Waite LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9071474 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature