Andreas Ihle1,2,3, Élvio R Gouveia2,4,5, Bruna R Gouveia2,5,6,7, Sascha Zuber1,2,3, Nathalie Mella1,2,8, Olivier Desrichard3,8, Stéphane Cullati2,3,9, Michel Oris2,3, Jürgen Maurer3,10, Matthias Kliegel1,2,3. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 2. Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES - Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland. 4. Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal. 5. LARSYS, Interactive Technologies Institute, Funchal, Portugal. 6. Health Administration Institute, Secretary of Health of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal. 7. Saint Joseph of Cluny Higher School of Nursing, Funchal, Portugal. 8. Groupe de Recherche en Psychologie de la Santé, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 9. Department of Community Health, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. 10. Department of Economics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Abstract
Objectives: We investigated the longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning over six years as measured through performance changes in the Trail Making Test (TMT). We also examined whether this longitudinal relationship differed by key markers of cognitive reserve (education, occupation, and leisure activities), taking into account age, sex, and chronic diseases as covariates.Method: We used latent change score modeling based on longitudinal data from 897 older adults tested on TMT parts A and B in two waves six years apart. Mean age in the first wave was 74.33 years. Participants reported their weight and height (to calculate BMI), education, occupation, leisure activities, and chronic diseases. Results: There was a significant interaction of obesity in the first wave of data collection with leisure activities in the first wave on subsequent latent change. Specifically, obesity in the first wave significantly predicted a steeper subsequent decline in executive functioning over six years in individuals with a low frequency of leisure activities in the first wave. In contrast, in individuals with a high frequency of leisure activities in the first wave, this longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning was not significant. Conclusion: The longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning may be attenuated in individuals who have accumulated greater cognitive reserve through an engaged lifestyle in old age. Implications for current cognitive reserve and gerontological research are discussed.
Objectives: We investigated the longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning over six years as measured through performance changes in the Trail Making Test (TMT). We also examined whether this longitudinal relationship differed by key markers of cognitive reserve (education, occupation, and leisure activities), taking into account age, sex, and chronic diseases as covariates.Method: We used latent change score modeling based on longitudinal data from 897 older adults tested on TMT parts A and B in two waves six years apart. Mean age in the first wave was 74.33 years. Participants reported their weight and height (to calculate BMI), education, occupation, leisure activities, and chronic diseases. Results: There was a significant interaction of obesity in the first wave of data collection with leisure activities in the first wave on subsequent latent change. Specifically, obesity in the first wave significantly predicted a steeper subsequent decline in executive functioning over six years in individuals with a low frequency of leisure activities in the first wave. In contrast, in individuals with a high frequency of leisure activities in the first wave, this longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning was not significant. Conclusion: The longitudinal relationship between obesity and subsequent decline in executive functioning may be attenuated in individuals who have accumulated greater cognitive reserve through an engaged lifestyle in old age. Implications for current cognitive reserve and gerontological research are discussed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Decline in executive functioning; cognitive reserve; longitudinal study; obesity