Open AccessAssociations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in youth
Author(s) -
Skog Hannamari,
Lintu Niina,
Haapala Henna L.,
Haapala Eero A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.14586
Subject(s) - cardiorespiratory fitness , arterial stiffness , bioelectrical impedance analysis , cardiology , aerobic exercise , medicine , cognition , pulse wave velocity , vo2 max , ventilatory threshold , working memory , physical therapy , cycle ergometer , body mass index , heart rate , psychology , blood pressure , psychiatry
Abstract Purpose To investigate the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and arterial stiffness with cognition in 16‐ to 19‐year‐old adolescents. Methods Fifty four adolescents (35 girls; 19 boys) participated in the study. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ) and peak power output (W max ) were measured by the maximal ramp test on a cycle ergometer and ventilatory threshold (VT) was determined with ventilation equivalents. Lean mass (LM) and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) were measured by a non‐invasive oscillometric device. Working memory, short term memory, visual learning and memory, paired‐associate learning, attention, reaction time, and executive function were assessed by CogState tests. Results V̇O 2peak /LM (β = 0.36 p = .011) and W max /LM (β = 0.30 p = .020) were positively associated with working memory. W max /LM was also positively associated with visual learning (β = 0.37, p = .009). V̇O 2 at VT/LM was positively associated with working memory (β = 0.30 p = .016), visual learning (β = 0.31 p = .026), and associated learning (β = −0.27 p = .040). V̇O 2 at VT as % of V̇O 2peak , BF%, PWVao, and AIx% were not associated with cognition. Conclusion Cardiorespiratory fitness was related to better cognitive function, while BF% and arterial stiffness were not associated with cognition in adolescents.