The Impact of Moderate-to-Low Intensity Socially-Engaged Physical Activity on Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults: An Empirical Analysis Based on CHARLS 2020 Baseline Data

Background Amidst the accelerating global aging process, cognitive decline in older adults has emerged as a critical public health challenge. While existing studies predominantly focus on examining the isolated effects of physical activity or social engagement on cognitive function, systematic investigations into moderate-to-low intensity physical activities with integrated social attributes (e.g., dancing, mahjong) remain inadequate. Methods Utilizing baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2020; n =7,141), this study employs multiple linear regression models to comprehensively assess the impact of socially-engaged moderate-to-low intensity physical activities on cognitive performance among adults aged 60 years and older. Results Key findings demonstrate that in older adults, moderate-to-low intensity physical activity ( β =0.068–0.075, P <0.001) and social engagement (e.g., community participation, educational training; β =0.036–0.046, P <0.01) are significantly positively associated with cognitive performance. In contrast, high-intensity physical activity showed a significant negative correlation with cognitive function ( β =−0.087, P <0.001) in this population. Hierarchical regression analysis further reveals that integrated models combining social and physical activities exhibit superior explanatory power ( R² =2.5%) compared to single-activity models ( R² =1.3–1.5%, P <0.001) among older adults, indicating statistically significant interaction effects. Notably, Socially-Engaged Physical activities(SEPA) (e.g., dancing: β =0.069–0.100; mahjong: β =0.069–0.100, P <0.001) demonstrate enhanced cognitive benefits for older adults, with standardized coefficients ( β =0.082) significantly exceeding those of non-social physical activities ( β =0.071) and purely social interactions ( β =0.038). Conclusion These findings indicate that specific-intensity activities combining motor coordination and social cognition confer greater cognitive benefits in older adults. This study provides robust epidemiological evidence for optimizing cognitive interventions in aging populations, advocating for prioritized implementation of socially-embedded moderate-intensity activities over isolated exercise regimens in public health strategies.