Physical Activity in Early- and Mid-Adulthood Are Independently Associated With Longitudinal Memory Trajectories in Later Life

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) in later life may reduce dementia risk, but little is known regarding long-term cognitive effects of PA that occurred earlier in adulthood or mechanisms underlying associations. PA patterns at different ages may independently contribute to dementia risk, which would implicate multiple critical periods for intervention. The current study tested whether retrospective reports of PA in early and mid-adulthood were independently associated with later-life longitudinal memory outcomes and whether associations were mediated by late-life cardiometabolic diseases. Method Participants comprised 5200 Health and Retirement Study Life History Mail Survey respondents. Latent growth curves estimated independent associations between retrospectively reported PA in early adulthood (age 18–29) and mid-adulthood (age 40–49) and 16-year episodic memory trajectories. Indirect pathways involving the maintenance of PA from early- to mid-adulthood and the influence of PA on later-life cardiometabolic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease) were also estimated. Results PA in early- and mid-adulthood independently predicted higher initial memory level and slower memory decline in later life, respectively. Early-adulthood PA was indirectly associated with later-life memory level through higher mid-adulthood PA and lower rates of later-life hypertension, as well as with subsequent memory decline through higher mid-adulthood PA. Conclusions The current findings highlight the importance of PA throughout adulthood, such that initiating and/or maintaining exercise in early- or mid-adulthood may be protective for later-life cognitive health, and hypertension appears to represent a key mediator of these effects.

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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN EARLY AND MIDDLE ADULTHOOD PREDICTS LATER-LIFE MEMORY TRAJECTORIES VIA HEALTH PATHWAYS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3288 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S900-S900

Author(s):

Zarina Kraal ◽

Laura B Zahodne

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Life Course ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Mail Survey ◽

Later Life ◽

Study Entry ◽

Latent Growth Curves ◽

Metabolic Equivalents ◽

Dementia Risk

Abstract Physical inactivity measured during late-life is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, but many studies use concurrent assessments with limited longitudinal follow-up. Less is known regarding life course exposure to physical inactivity. Physical activity patterns at different ages may make independent contributions to dementia risk, which would point to multiple critical periods for intervention. Using Health and Retirement Study Life History Mail Survey data (N=4,396), latent growth curves tested whether retrospectively-reported activity in early (18-29 years) and middle (40-49 years) adulthood predicted later-life memory trajectories over 18 years (mean age at study entry = 60.56 ± 5.44; mean follow-up = 13.27 ± 4.03 years). Total metabolic equivalents were computed from reports of moderate and vigorous physical activity. Biennial memory performance was modeled from study entry (between 1996 and 2014) to 2014. Self-reported physical and mental health at study entry were modeled as independent mediators. Models were adjusted for age at study entry, sex, education, race, ethnicity, childhood socio-economic status, year of study entry, and year of mail survey enrollment. More physical activity at ages 18-29 and 40-49 were independently associated with better initial memory, but not subsequent memory change. The association between physical activity at ages 40-49 and initial memory was partially mediated by better mental and physical health. These observational results support the possibility that physical activity interventions during multiple stages of the adult life course might be effective at lowering dementia risk. In particular, mid-life physical activity may have broad effects on later mental, physical, and cognitive health.

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Leisure time physical activity throughout adulthood is associated with lower medicare costs: evidence from the linked NIH-AARP diet and health study cohort

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. e001038

Author(s):

Diarmuid Coughlan ◽

Pedro F Saint-Maurice ◽

Susan A Carlson ◽

Janet Fulton ◽

Charles E Matthews

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Healthcare Costs ◽

Middle Age ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Later Life ◽

Health Study ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Medicare Costs

BackgroundThere is limited information about the association between long-term leisure time physical activity (LTPA) participation and healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between LTPA over adulthood with later life healthcare costs in the USA.MethodsUsing Medicare claims data (between 1999 and 2008) linked to the National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons (NIH-AARP) Diet and Health Study, we examined associations between nine trajectories of physical activity participation throughout adulthood with Medicare costs.ResultsCompared with adults who were consistently inactive from adolescence into middle age, average annual healthcare costs were significantly lower for maintainers, adults who maintained moderate (–US$1350 (95% CI: –US$2009 to –US$690) or −15.9% (95% CI: −23.6% to −8.1%)) or high physical activity levels (–US$1200 (95% CI: –US$1777 to –US$622) or −14.1% (95% CI: −20.9% to −7.3%)) and increasers, adults who increased physical activity levels in early adulthood (–US$1874 (95% CI: US$2691 to –US$1057) or −22.0% (95% CI: −31.6% to −12.4%)) or in middle age (–US$824 (95% CI: –US$1580 to –US$69 or −9.7% (95% CI −18.6% to −0.8%)). For the four trajectories where physical activity decreased, the only significant difference was for adults who increased physical activity levels during early adulthood with a decline in middle age (–US$861 (95% CI:–US$1678 to –US$45) or −10.1% (95% CI: −19.7% to −0.5%)).ConclusionOur analyses suggest the healthcare cost burden in later life could be reduced through promotion efforts supporting physical activity participation throughout adulthood.

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A Prospective Examination of the Relationship between Physical Activity and Dementia Risk in Later Life

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.4278/ajhp.110311-quan-115 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 333-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Mary Elizabeth Bowen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Model Building ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Later Life ◽

Cognitive Outcome ◽

Dementia Diagnosis ◽

Activity Data ◽

Dementia Risk ◽

Prospective Study Design ◽

The Relationship

Purpose. To examine the relationship between vigorous physical activity and dementia risk. Design. Prospective study design utilizing physical activity data from the Health and Retirement Study and cognitive outcome data from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study. Setting. Community-based. Subjects. Adults age 71 and over (N = 808) with 3 to 7 years of physical activity information prior to dementia/no dementia diagnosis. Measures. Physical activity was measured by participation in vigorous activities such as aerobics, sports, running, bicycling, and heavy housework three or more times per week (yes/no). Dementia diagnosis was based on an expert panel (e.g., neuropsychologists, neurologists, geropsychiatrists) who performed and reviewed a battery of neuropsychological tests. Analysis. Binary logistic regression models were used to account for demographic characteristics, genetic risk factors (one or two apolipoprotein E ε4 alleles), health behaviors (e.g., smoking, drinking alcohol), health indicators (body mass index), and health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease) in a sequential model-building process. Results. The relationship between vigorous physical activity and dementia risk remained robust across models. In the final model, older adults who were physically active were 21% (p ≤ .05) less likely than their counterparts to be diagnosed with dementia. Conclusion. Vigorous physical activity may reduce the risk for dementia independently of the factors examined here. This study's findings are important given that few preventative strategies for dementia have been explored beyond hormonal therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs.

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Association of work-family experience with mid- and late-life memory decline in US women

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000010989 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 95 (23) ◽

pp. e3072-e3080 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elizabeth Rose Mayeda ◽

Taylor M. Mobley ◽

Robert E. Weiss ◽

Audrey R. Murchland ◽

Lisa F. Berkman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Mothers ◽

Life Histories ◽

Average Rate ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Later Life ◽

Memory Decline ◽

Married Mothers ◽

Work Family ◽

Study Participants

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that life course patterns of employment, marriage, and childrearing influence later-life rate of memory decline among women, we examined the relationship of work-family experiences between ages 16 and 50 years and memory decline after age 55 years among US women.MethodsParticipants were women ages ≥55 years in the Health and Retirement Study. Participants reported employment, marital, and parenthood statuses between ages 16 and 50 years. Sequence analysis was used to group women with similar work-family life histories; we identified 5 profiles characterized by similar timing and transitions of combined work, marital, and parenthood statuses. Memory performance was assessed biennially from 1995 to 2016. We estimated associations between work-family profiles and later-life memory decline with linear mixed-effects models adjusted for practice effects, baseline age, race/ethnicity, birth region, childhood socioeconomic status, and educational attainment.ResultsThere were 6,189 study participants (n = 488 working nonmothers, n = 4,326 working married mothers, n = 530 working single mothers, n = 319 nonworking single mothers, n = 526 nonworking married mothers). Mean baseline age was 57.2 years; average follow-up was 12.3 years. Between ages 55 and 60, memory scores were similar across work-family profiles. After age 60, average rate of memory decline was more than 50% greater among women whose work-family profiles did not include working for pay after childbearing, compared with those who were working mothers.ConclusionsWomen who worked for pay in early adulthood and midlife experienced slower rates of later-life memory decline, regardless of marital and parenthood status, suggesting participation in the paid labor force may protect against later-life memory decline.

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Physical Activity Trajectories During Adulthood and Incident Hypertension: A National Longitudinal Cohort Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-34663/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gui-zhen Cao ◽

Cong-ju Wang ◽

Hao-yu Dong ◽

Zhi-zhen Cui ◽

Ya-na Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Later Life ◽

Nutrition Survey ◽

Gradual Decline ◽

Incident Hypertension ◽

Health And Nutrition ◽

Cox Proportional Hazard ◽

Hazard Ratios

Abstract Background We aimed to characterize the physical activity (PA) trajectories across adulthood and estimate their association with incident hypertension risk.Methods Data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) conducted during 2004–2011. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to identify distinct groups of PA trajectories. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the association between each PA trajectory group and incident hypertension.Results A total of 11,162 participants whose PA was repeatedly measured two to four times in the CHNS during 2004–2011 were included in our study. During the 5.4 years of follow-up, 3,824 incident hypertension cases were identified. Five distinct PA trajectories were identified in men: light and slight decline, light and gradual decline then sharp rise, light to medium-heavy then decline, medium-heavy and persistent decline, and heavy and sharp decline. Two distinct PA trajectories were identified in women: light and stable, and medium and gradual decline. The PA trajectory of medium-heavy and persistent decline was significantly associated with decreased risk of hypertension in men, with the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals being 0.80 (0.63, 0.99), 0.74 (0.59, 0.93), 0.76 (0.60, 0.96), and 0.70 (0.55, 0.88) in model 1, model 2, model 3, and model 4, respectively.Conclusions Our study identified five distinct long‐term PA trajectories in men and two distinct trajectories in women. The PA trajectory of medium-heavy PA in early adulthood (at 18–37 years) followed by persistent decline (at 38–70 years) was found to be significantly associated with a decreased risk of hypertension in later life in men.

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Changes in Social Integration Predict Changes in Physical Activity: A 25-Year Prospective Study

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2017-0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. 531-536

Author(s):

Joey Lightner ◽

Brandon C. Irwin ◽

Matthew Chrisman

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Integration ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Growth Curves ◽

Latent Growth ◽

Short Term ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Latent Growth Curves ◽

Cross Sectional Studies

Background: Social relationships are among the strongest predictors of health. The extent to which one is embedded in social networks, also referred to as social integration, has been associated with physical activity in short-term longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. How changes in social integration impact physical activity over longer periods of time is not well understood. Methods: Longitudinal data from 5 waves of the Americans’ Changing Lives study were used (wave 1: n = 3617; wave 5: n = 1427). Data were modeled using latent growth curves to understand the trajectories of social integration and physical activity, separately. Latent interlocking growth curve methods were used to understand if and how changes in social integration predicted changes in physical activity. Results: Physical activity did not change over the 25-year period (P = .68). Social integration significantly decreased (P = .025). Changes in social integration predicted changes in physical activity (β = 0.12, P < .05). Conclusions: Changes in how often adults speak to family and friends predict changes in physical activity across a 25-year period. Group- and social network–focused physical activity research, advocacy, and interventions are warranted.

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Physical Activity as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Race or Ethnicity and Changes in Multimorbidity

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1098 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 342-342

Author(s):

Jason Newsom ◽

Emily Denning ◽

Ana Quinones ◽

Miriam Elman ◽

Anda Botoseneanu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sex Education ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Insurance Coverage ◽

Ethnic Disparities ◽

Later Life ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

The Relationship ◽

Racial Ethnic

Abstract Racial/ethnic disparities in multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions) and their rate of accumulation over time have been established. Studies report differences in physical activity across racial/ethnic groups. We investigated whether racial/ethnic differences in accumulation of multimorbidity over a 10-year period (2004-2014) were mediated by physical activity using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 10,724, mean age = 63.5 years). Structural equation modeling was used to estimate a latent growth curve model of changes in the number of self-reported chronic conditions (of nine) and investigate whether the relationship of race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White) to change in the number of chronic conditions was mediated by physical activity after controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, personal wealth, and insurance coverage. Results indicated that Blacks engaged in significantly lower levels of physical activity than Whites (b = -.171, □ = -.153, p < .001), but there were no differences between Hispanics and Whites (b = -.010, □ = -.008, ns). Physical activity also significantly predicted both lower initial levels of multimorbidity (b = -1.437, □ = -.420, p < .001) and greater decline in multimorbidity (b = -.039, □ = -.075, p < .001). The indirect (mediational) effect for the Black vs. White comparison was significant (b = .007, □ = .011, 95% CI [.004,.010]). These results provide important new information for understanding how modifiable lifestyle factors may help explain disparities in multimorbidity in middle and later life, suggesting greater need to reduce sedentary behavior and increase activity.

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Early Origins of Body Mass in Later Life: Examining Childhood Risks and Adult Pathways

Journal of Health and Social Behavior ◽

10.1177/00221465211005419 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002214652110054

Author(s):

Sarah A. Mustillo ◽

Miao Li ◽

Patricia Morton ◽

Kenneth F. Ferraro

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Mass ◽

Health Risks ◽

Early Life ◽

Life Experiences ◽

Later Life ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Older Adulthood ◽

Early Life Exposure ◽

Nationally Representative

Prior research reveals that negative early-life experiences play a major role in the development of obesity in later life, but few studies identify mechanisms that alter the lifetime risk of obesity. This study examines the influence of negative childhood experiences on body mass index (BMI) and obesity (BMI ≥30) during older adulthood and the psychosocial and behavioral pathways involved. Using a nationally representative sample, we examine the influence of cumulative misfortune as well as five separate domains of misfortune on BMI and obesity. Results show that four of the five domains are associated with BMI and obesity either directly, indirectly, or both. The influence of cumulative misfortune on the outcomes is mediated by three adult factors: socioeconomic status, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. The mediators identified here provide targets for intervention among older adults to help offset the health risks of excess BMI attributable of early-life exposure to misfortune.

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Profile Groups Based on Lifestyle and Differences in Mental Health and Cognition

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1301 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 404-404

Author(s):

Joseph Kim ◽

Kyuree Kim

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Latent Class ◽

Mail Survey ◽

Later Life ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Final Sample ◽

Group 2 ◽

Mean Differences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify the profiles of older adults according to lifestyle. Data for the study were from the 2017 Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS). CAMS 2017 is a questionnaire mailed to a sub-sample of respondents from the Health and Retirement Study. Participants were limited to older adults 65 and older, and the final sample consisted of 1136 older adults. The sample included 443 men and 693 women. Caucasians comprised 82.0% of the participants. Lifestyle was measured through items assessing the amount of time spent on activities. Due to high skewness, the items were dichotomized, 0=no time spent on activity and 1=time spent on the activity. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify groups based on lifestyle. LCA is a person-centered approach for identifying unobserved subgroups based on similarity in responses to items. Three lifestyle groups were identified. Group 1 was “Outgoing” with 471 individuals. Group 2 was “Adequate” with 229 individuals. Group 3 was “Inactive” with 436 individuals. An ANOVA was then conducted to assess mean differences in self-rated health, cognition, depressive symptoms, and loneliness for the three lifestyle groups. The “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups had significantly higher scores on self-rated health and cognition, and in addition, significantly lower scores on depressive symptoms and loneliness compared to the “Inactive” group. No significant differences were observed between the “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups. An implication from this study is the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in later life for better mental health and cognition.

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