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Physical activity and domain‐specific cognitive function: The Shanghai Aging Study
Author(s) -
Wu Wanqing,
Ding Ding,
Zhao Qianhua,
Xiao Zhenxu,
Liang Xiaoniu,
Luo Jianfeng,
Hong Zhen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.038373
Subject(s) - logistic regression , metabolic equivalent , neuropsychology , medicine , multivariate statistics , cognition , body mass index , bayesian multivariate linear regression , gerontology , psychology , linear regression , physical activity , physical therapy , psychiatry , statistics , mathematics
Background To examine the association of physical activity (PA) and domain‐specific cognitive function among older adults. Method This cross‐sectional study analyzed the baseline data of the Shanghai Aging Study, which included 3,507 community‐dwellings aged >=50 years and with >= 6 years of education. The characteristics of the participants were collected via an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Participants were asked about the average time of doing PAs during the past 12 months. A metabolic equivalent value (MET) was assigned for each type of activity based on the compendium of PAs. We categorized PA into low level (<10.5 METs/week) and medium‐to‐high level (≥10.5 METs/week), based on the tertile of the METs distribution. Each participant was administered a battery of neuropsychological tests including Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE); Conflicting Instructions Task(CIT); Stick Test (ST); Modified Common Objects Sorting Test; Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT); and Trail‐making Tests A and B. Impairment in specific neuropsychological test was defined as having test score > 1 SD worse than the mean value in corresponding age‐specific groups. We used multivariate linear regression models to assess the relation between METs (as a continuous variable) and scores of each neuropsychological test. Multivariate logistic regression models were also applied to examine the association between PA levels (as a categorical variable) and domain‐specific cognitive impairment, adjusting for age, sex, years of education, smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes, body mass index, and APOE ε4. Result Participants with PA ≥10.5 METs/week were significantly younger, more likely to be male, had a lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, had a better performance in all the neuropsychological tests. After adjusting for confounders, higher levels of PA was associated with a better performance in MMSE ( β =0.09, p =0.020; OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.37‐0.91), conflicting correct tapping in CIT ( β =0.06, p =0.056; OR=0.55, 95% CI 0.40‐0.76), recognition in AVLT ( β =0.10, p =0.047; OR=0.76, 95% CI 0.60‐0.97), and imitating in ST ( β= 0.03, p =0.005; OR=0.69, 95% CI 0.48‐0.98) (Table 2, Figure 1). Conclusion Medium‐to‐high level of PA was associated with a better performance in global cognition, executive function, visuospatial skill, and memory among older adults. Further prospective studies are required to validate our findings and explore their clinical implications.