The effect of cognitive function on mobility improvement among community-living older adults: A 12-week resistance exercise intervention study

Background: Abnormal 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) patterns have been associated with diminished cognitive function in hypertensive and very elderly populations. The relationship between ABPM patterns in community-living older adults is unknown. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which ABPM, in-clinic blood pressure, and cognitive function measures were obtained in 354 community living older adults. We used multiple linear regression to examine the associations of in-clinic and ABPM with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA [range 0-30 with lower levels indicating worse cognition]), adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and comorbid medical conditions. Results: The mean age was 72 years, 68% were female, and 13% were African American; 45% had a diagnosis of hypertension. In-clinic blood pressure measurements were not significantly associated with cognitive function after adjustment. In contrast, less nighttime systolic dipping percentage (Figure) and lower 24-hour average diastolic blood pressure obtained from the ABPM were both significantly associated with worse cognitive function. In the final model, each 1% less night-time dipping was associated with 0.25 points (0.1-0.9) lower MoCA score, whereas each 10 mmHg lower diastolic blood pressure was associated with 0.59 (0.14-1.05) points lower MoCA score. Conclusions: In community-living older persons, less nighttime systolic dipping and lower 24-hour diastolic blood pressure obtained by ABPM were associated with worse cognitive function whereas clinic based blood pressure measurements were not. Future studies should examine whether 24-hour diastolic blood pressure and nighttime systolic dipping may predict future risk for cognitive impairment. (Legend: Dipping quartiles: Q1 -17.8% to 6.0%; Q2 6.1% to 11.0%; Q3 11.1% to 16.3%; Q4 16.4% to 34.2%)

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Movement Therapy and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A 10-Year Study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1174 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 364-365

Author(s):

Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya ◽

Hongdao Meng ◽

Gizem Hueluer ◽

Kathryn Hyer

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Movement Therapy ◽

The United States ◽

Physical Activities ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Community Living ◽

Middle Aged

Abstract Cognitive function is an important component of healthy aging and physical activities have been shown to support late life cognitive function. However, it is unclear whether non-traditional physical activities provide additional benefits for cognitive function above and beyond traditional leisure physical activities. This study examines the associations between movement therapy and cognitive function in the US population. We used data from the waves 1, 2 and 3 (1995-2014) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. MIDUS included a national probability sample of community-living adults aged 25-75 years old in 1995 (wave 1) and added the wave 2 cognitive functioning tests of executive function and episodic memory. We applied multivariate linear regression models to estimate the effect of movement therapy (wave 2) on the cognitive episodic memory and executive function (wave 3) while controlling the covariates (wave 2 sociodemographic factors, health, and cognitive function). A total of 2097 individuals aged 42-92 years (mean 64.4, sd 10.9, 55.6% women) were included in the analysis. Movement therapy was independently associated with better episodic memory (beta=0.117, p=0.02), but not with executive function (beta=0.039, p=0.14), after including control variables. The results suggest that movement therapy may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention to attenuate age-related cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. Future research should test whether these findings can be replicated in similar populations and if confirmed, interventions should incorporate a wider range of physical activities in community-living older adults with the goal of maintaining and improving physical and cognitive health.

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ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GRIP STRENGTH AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1797 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S483-S484

Author(s):

Milan Chang ◽

Alfons Ramel ◽

Palmi V Jonsson ◽

Inga Thorsdottir ◽

Olof Geirsdottir

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Mmse Score ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background: Decline in both physical function and cognition among older adults has been associated with increased risk of dementia. Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for the improvement of both physical and cognitive function. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between baseline physical function and cognitive function after 12 weeks of resistance training among older adults. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven community-dwelling older adults (N=237, 73.7±5.7 years, 58.2% female) participated in a 12-week resistance exercise program (3 times/week; 3 sets, 6-8 repetitions at 75-80% of the 1-repetition maximum), designed to increase strength and muscle mass of major muscle groups. Body composition, physical activity status, grip strength, cardiovascular risk factors, 6 minutes walking distance (6MWD), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were measured at baseline and endpoint. The linear regression model was used to examine the association. Results: Mean MMSE score was 27.5±2.1 at baseline and 28.1±2.2 after the exercise intervention. After the intervention, 57 declined, 55 remained the same, and 120 have improved in MMSE scores. We found that the MMSE score after the intervention was significantly associated with baseline grip strength (beta=.03, P<.05) among healthy older adults, after adjusting basic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and mobility at baseline. Conclusion: Our study found that baseline grip strength was strongly associated with cognitive function after the 12 weeks of resistance training. Muscle power, such as grip strength may play an important role in the effect of exercise intervention on cognition even among healthy independent older adults.

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Study of the Older Adults’ Motivators and Barriers Engaging in a Nutrition and Resistance Exercise Intervention for Sarcopenia: An Embedded Qualitative Project in the MIlkMAN Pilot Study

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1177/2333721420920398 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 233372142092039

Author(s):

Lorelle Dismore ◽

Christopher Hurst ◽

Avan A. Sayer ◽

Emma Stevenson ◽

Terry Aspray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Knowledge Acquisition ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Positive Health ◽

Study Results

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate motivators and barriers to older adults engaging in a nutrition and resistance exercise (RE) intervention for sarcopenia. Methods: We conducted a content analysis of structured interviews with 29 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65–80 years) completing the MIlk Intervention Muscle AgeiNg (MIlkMAN) study. Results: Content analysis revealed that self-perceived improved health, knowledge acquisition in nutrition and exercise, social well-being, professional support in a fun environment, and positive reported outcomes were motivators for engagement in the intervention. Peer encouragement, social bonds, and their retention were motivators to continuing engagement after study completion, especially in widowed women. Barriers to maintenance included affordability, environmental factors, and concerns over negative health outcomes. Discussion: Nutrition and RE interventions for sarcopenia should focus on knowledge acquisition about their health benefits, being enjoyable, and offering social opportunities that have the potential to last beyond the study duration to promote and maintain positive health behaviors.

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