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Download fileProspective associations between leisure-time physical activity and cognitive performance among older adults across an 11-year period
journal contribution
posted on 2014-07-30, 11:18 authored by Po-Wen Ku, Clare StevinsonClare Stevinson, Li-Jung ChenBackground: Few studies have explored the relations between naturally occurring changes in physical activity and
cognitive performance in later life. This study examined prospective associations between changes in physical
activity and cognitive performance in a population-based sample of Taiwanese older adults during an 11-year period.
Methods: Analyses were based on nationally representative data from the Taiwan Health and Living Status of the
Elderly Survey collected in 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007. Data from a fixed cohort of 1160 participants who were
aged 67 years or older in 1996 and followed for 11 years were included. Cognitive performance (outcome) was
assessed using 5 questions from the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire. Physical activity (exposure) was
self-reported as number of sessions per week. The latent growth model was used to examine associations between
changes in physical activity and cognitive performance after controlling for sociodemographic variables, lifestyle
behaviors, and health status.
Results: With multivariate adjustment, higher initial levels of physical activity were significantly associated with
better initial cognitive performance (standardized coefficient β = 0.17). A higher level of physical activity at baseline
(1996) was significantly related to slower decline in cognitive performance, as compared with a lower level of
activity (β = 0.22). The association between changes in physical activity and changes in cognitive performance was
stronger (β = 0.36) than the previous 2 associations. The effect remained after excluding participants with cognitive
decline before baseline.
Conclusions: Physical activity in later life is associated with slower age-related cognitive decline.
Funding
The research was supported by Taiwan National Science Council (NSC 98-2410-H-018-034- MY2).
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Published in
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGYVolume
22Issue
3Pages
230 - 237 (8)Citation
KU, P-W, STEVINSON, C. and CHEN, L-J., 2012. Prospective associations between leisure-time physical activity and cognitive performance among older adults across an 11-year period. Journal of Epidemiology, 22(3), pp.230-237.Publisher
© Japan Epidemiological AssociationVersion
- VoR (Version of Record)
Publication date
2012Notes
KU, P-W, STEVINSON, C. and CHEN, L-J., 2012. Prospective associations between leisure-time physical activity and cognitive performance among older adults across an 11-year period. Journal of Epidemiology, 22(3), pp.230-237. doi:10.2188/jea.JE20110084, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.ISSN
0917-5040Publisher version
Language
- en