BACKGROUND: Findings from studies investigating whether physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline in old age have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether participation in physical activity by older adults reduces the rate of cognitive decline after accounting for participation in cognitively stimulating activities. DESIGN: A prospective population study conducted from August 1993 to January 2003, with an average follow-up of 6.4 years. SETTING: A biracial community population on the south side of Chicago. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 4055 community-dwelling adults 65 years and older who were able to walk across a small room and had participated in at least 2 of the 3 follow-up assessments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Annual rate of cognitive change as measured by a global cognitive score, which consisted of averaged standardized scores from 4 cognitive tests. RESULTS: In a mixed model adjusted for age, sex, race, and education, each additional physical activity hour per week was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline by 0.0007 U/y (P = .04). However, with further adjustments (1) for participation in cognitive activities (beta = .0006, P = .10), (2) for depression and vascular diseases (beta = .0005, P = .19), and (3) by excluding participants whose global cognitive score at baseline was at or below the 10th percentile (beta = .0002, P = .45), the coefficients were smaller and no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These data do not support the hypothesis that physical activity alone protects against cognitive decline among older adults.
BACKGROUND: Findings from studies investigating whether physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline in old age have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether participation in physical activity by older adults reduces the rate of cognitive decline after accounting for participation in cognitively stimulating activities. DESIGN: A prospective population study conducted from August 1993 to January 2003, with an average follow-up of 6.4 years. SETTING: A biracial community population on the south side of Chicago. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 4055 community-dwelling adults 65 years and older who were able to walk across a small room and had participated in at least 2 of the 3 follow-up assessments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Annual rate of cognitive change as measured by a global cognitive score, which consisted of averaged standardized scores from 4 cognitive tests. RESULTS: In a mixed model adjusted for age, sex, race, and education, each additional physical activity hour per week was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline by 0.0007 U/y (P = .04). However, with further adjustments (1) for participation in cognitive activities (beta = .0006, P = .10), (2) for depression and vascular diseases (beta = .0005, P = .19), and (3) by excluding participants whose global cognitive score at baseline was at or below the 10th percentile (beta = .0002, P = .45), the coefficients were smaller and no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These data do not support the hypothesis that physical activity alone protects against cognitive decline among older adults.
Authors: John L Woodard; Michael A Sugarman; Kristy A Nielson; J Carson Smith; Michael Seidenberg; Sally Durgerian; Alissa Butts; Nathan Hantke; Melissa Lancaster; Monica A Matthews; Stephen M Rao Journal: Curr Alzheimer Res Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 3.498
Authors: Jeanine M Parisi; George W Rebok; Teresa E Seeman; Elizabeth K Tanner; Erwin J Tan; Linda P Fried; Qian-Li Xue; Kevin D Frick; Michelle C Carlson Journal: Act Adapt Aging Date: 2012-09-18
Authors: Philippa J Clarke; Jennifer Weuve; Lisa Barnes; Denis A Evans; Carlos F Mendes de Leon Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2015-07-16 Impact factor: 3.797