Yaara Orland1, Michal Schnaider Beeri2,3, Sigal Levy1, Ariel Israel2, Ramit Ravona-Springer4, Shlomo Segev5, Odelia Elkana6. 1. Behavioral Sciences, Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Rabeinu Yerucham St., P.O.Box 8401, 68114, Yaffo, Israel. 2. The Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel. 3. Department of Psychiatry, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel. 5. Institute of Medical Screening, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel. 6. Behavioral Sciences, Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Rabeinu Yerucham St., P.O.Box 8401, 68114, Yaffo, Israel. odelia.elkana@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Physical fitness is an important contributor to healthy aging that improves cognition. Older adults who engage in cardiorespiratory fitness activities show less cognitive decline. AIMS: To examine whether physical fitness acts as a potential protective mechanism shielding against the negative associations between age and cognition. Specifically, we examined whether physical fitness mediates the relationship between age and processing speed. METHODS: 114 (M = 63.80, SD = 10.63) senior executives completed a computerized cognitive battery composed of four processing speed tasks. Level of physical fitness was assessed on a treadmill stress test and reported in metabolic equivalents (METs). RESULTS: Older age was associated with slower processing speed (r = 0.25, p = 0.007), whereas greater physical fitness was associated with faster processing speed (r = -0.30, p = 0.001). Path analysis indicated that the association between age and processing speed was fully mediated by the level of physical fitness (Indirect effect: β = 0.10, p = 0.008; Direct effect: β = 0.16, p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION: The findings indicate that physical fitness is a strong mediator of the relationship between age and processing speed and imply that physical fitness makes a major contribution to cognitive reserve during the aging process. The results may suggest that the decrease in physical fitness during aging may partially account for slower cognitive processing.
BACKGROUND: Physical fitness is an important contributor to healthy aging that improves cognition. Older adults who engage in cardiorespiratory fitness activities show less cognitive decline. AIMS: To examine whether physical fitness acts as a potential protective mechanism shielding against the negative associations between age and cognition. Specifically, we examined whether physical fitness mediates the relationship between age and processing speed. METHODS: 114 (M = 63.80, SD = 10.63) senior executives completed a computerized cognitive battery composed of four processing speed tasks. Level of physical fitness was assessed on a treadmill stress test and reported in metabolic equivalents (METs). RESULTS: Older age was associated with slower processing speed (r = 0.25, p = 0.007), whereas greater physical fitness was associated with faster processing speed (r = -0.30, p = 0.001). Path analysis indicated that the association between age and processing speed was fully mediated by the level of physical fitness (Indirect effect: β = 0.10, p = 0.008; Direct effect: β = 0.16, p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION: The findings indicate that physical fitness is a strong mediator of the relationship between age and processing speed and imply that physical fitness makes a major contribution to cognitive reserve during the aging process. The results may suggest that the decrease in physical fitness during aging may partially account for slower cognitive processing.
Authors: Jerome L Fleg; Christopher H Morrell; Angelo G Bos; Larry J Brant; Laura A Talbot; Jeanette G Wright; Edward G Lakatta Journal: Circulation Date: 2005-07-25 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Michelle W Voss; Timothy B Weng; Agnieszka Z Burzynska; Chelsea N Wong; Gillian E Cooke; Rachel Clark; Jason Fanning; Elizabeth Awick; Neha P Gothe; Erin A Olson; Edward McAuley; Arthur F Kramer Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2015-10-19 Impact factor: 6.556