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O1–05–02: Cardiovascular risk factors for cognitive function: Effects from early adulthood to mid‐life
Author(s) -
Yaffe Kristine,
Vittinghoff Eric,
Pletcher Mark,
Hoang Tina,
Launer Lenore,
Whitmer Rachel,
Sidney Steve
Publication year - 2013
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 - 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.04.074
Subject(s) - digit symbol substitution test , blood pressure , stroop effect , body mass index , medicine , cognition , cohort , diabetes mellitus , triglyceride , psychology , demography , endocrinology , cholesterol , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology , sociology , placebo
Background: Few studies have investigated whether physical activity in early to mid-life is associated with cognitive function even though this may be a critical period for establishing life-long activity habits. We investigated the relationship between long-term patterns of low physical activity over 25 years with cognitive function in mid-life. Methods: In a biracial cohort of 3,375 adults, (ages 18-30 years) enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study (1985-86) and followed for 25 years, physical activity was assessed at repeated visits ( 3 assessments) using a validated physical activity questionnaire and cognitive function was evaluated at the end of follow-up, Year 25. A long-term pattern of low physical activity over 25 years was defined as reporting activity levels within the bottom tertile ( 2/3 rds of completed visits. Cognitive function was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST, standard deviation (SD)1⁄416.16), Stroop Interference Score (SD1⁄410.98), and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT, SD1⁄43.27). Results: 26% of participants reported a long-term pattern of low physical activity over 25 years. Compared to more active participants, long-term patterns of low physical activity were associated with increased likelihood of significant poor cognitive performance (<1 SD below the mean) on DSST (inactive: 19% vs active: 15%, OR1⁄41.67, 95% CI 1.30-2.13) and Stroop (inactive: 18% vs active: 11%, OR1⁄41.47, 95% CI 1.15-1.88) but not on RAVLT, after adjusting for age, race, sex, education, smoking, body mass index, and hypertension. For those with very-low activity patterns (long-term pattern of physical activity scores <50 exercise units, 2% of participants), effects were even more pronounced (DSST: OR1⁄42.52, 95% CI 1.34-4.75; Stroop: OR1⁄42.24, 95% CI 1.21-4.14). Conclusions: Beginning in early adulthood, long-term patterns of low physical activity over 25 years were associated with worse mid-life executive function and processing speed. Future prevention strategies should focus on increasing physical activity across the life course.