Open AccessAccelerometer‐determined physical activity and cognitive function in middle‐aged and older adults from two generations of the Framingham Heart Study
Author(s) -
Spartano Nicole L.,
Demissie Serkalem,
Himali Jayandra J.,
Dukes Kimberly A.,
Murabito Joanne M.,
Vasan Ramachandran S.,
Beiser Alexa S.,
Seshadri Sudha
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: translational research and clinical interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.49
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 2352-8737
DOI - 10.1016/j.trci.2019.08.007
Subject(s) - cohort , framingham heart study , medicine , dementia , cohort study , gerontology , offspring , framingham risk score , cognition , middle age , cognitive decline , physical therapy , demography , disease , psychiatry , pregnancy , sociology , biology , genetics
Physical activity (PA) may play a role in maintenance of cognitive function in both middle and older ages and prevention of outcomes such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Methods Cross‐sectional regression analyses were performed in Framingham Heart Study Third Generation (n = 1861) and Offspring (n = 909) cohort participants assessing the association of accelerometry‐measured PA with cognitive function, adjusting for age, sex, accelerometer wear time, education, occupational status/PA, and smoking status. Results In each cohort, achieving just 10–21.4 min/day moderate‐to‐vigorous PA related to better executive function ( P < .02); and just 10 min/day moderate‐to‐vigorous PA was associated with better verbal memory in middle‐aged adults in the Third Generation cohort ( P = .02). In older adults of the Offspring cohort, total PA (measured in steps/day) was associated with better executive function ( P < .02). Discussion PA at levels lower than the current PA Guidelines (just 10 min/day moderate‐to‐vigorous PA and total PA including lower intensity PA) were associated with better cognitive function.