Arterial Stiffness and Age Moderate the Association Between Physical Activity and Global Cognition in Older Adults

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): The Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp Program of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Background The growing concern on the impact of higher arterial stiffness on cognitive decline in older adults, leads to the question of whether non-pharmacological interventions like physical activity should be introduced to correct or diminish the progression of arterial stiffness. Purpose The goal of this study is to elaborate a model for arterial stiffness as a moderator for the physical activity and global cognition relationship in function of age. Methods One hundred ten healthy older adults aged 60 to 75 years old (46 men and 64 women) were examined for arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cf-PWV)), global cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini Mental State Examination) and self-reported physical activity (PACED diary). The double moderation analysis used PROCESS macro for SPSS, where physical activity was included as the independent variable (X), global cognition as the dependent variable (Y), arterial stiffness as moderator 1 (W), and age moderator 2 (Z). This study used a cf-PWV cutoff of 8.5 m/s to identify micro-structural damage in the brain related to arterial stiffness. Results Results found that the arterial stiffness x age interaction moderated the effect of physical activity on global cognition (β = -.89, SE = .42, p = .037) (Model: R2 = .15, p = .018). Physical activity had a positive effect on cognition in younger-older adults (aged 60 to 68.5 years) with high arterial stiffness i.e. cf-PWV > 8.5 m/s (β = .57, SE = .222, p = .011, 95% CI .133 to 1.014), and in older-older adults (aged 68.6 to 75 years) with low arterial stiffness i.e. cf-PWV < 8.5 m/s (β = .49, SE = .190, p = .010, 95% CI = .116 to .869). Conclusions These results support targeted physical activity interventions based on age and degree of arterial stiffness, furthering the notion that even daily life physical activity could play an important role in older adults’ cognitive performances. Physical activity on global cognition Conditional effects of physical activity on global cognition Moderators cf-PWV Age Effect SE p CI < 8.5 m/s < 68.5 years .171 .245 .487 -.315 to .657 < 8.5 m/s > = 68.5 years .574 .222 .011* .133 to 1.014 > = 8.5 m/s < 68.5 years .492 .190 .010* .116 to .868 > = 8.5 m/s > = 68.5 years .002 .180 .990 -.355 to .359 Physical activity conditional effects on global cognition at determined values of arterial stiffness and age. SE: Standard Error, CI: Confidence Interval, cf-PWV: carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity, *p-value<.05.

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Arterial Stiffness and Age Moderate the Association Between Physical Activity and Cognition in Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.207 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 54-55

Author(s):

Adrian Noriega de la Colina ◽

Atef Badji ◽

Maxime Lamarre-Cliche ◽

Louis Bherer ◽

Hélène Girouard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Arterial Stiffness ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Age Groups ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Modifying Factors ◽

Global Cognition

Abstract Background Evidence supports that time spent on physical activity has beneficial effects on cognition in older adults. Nevertheless, this beneficial effect is likely to change in function of individual modifying factors like age and level of arterial stiffness. This study aims to reveal whether arterial stiffness and age modulate the positive impact of physical activity on cognition by developing a double moderation model. Methods 110 healthy older adults aged 60 to 75 years old were examined for arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity [cf-PWV]), global cognition (composite score of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Mini-Mental State Examination), and self-reported physical activity (PACED diary). Using PROCESS macro for SPSS, we evaluated if cf-PWV (moderator 1), and age (moderator 2) moderate the relationship between physical activity (X) and global cognition (Y). The threshold for high stiffness was set at 8.5 m/s based on previous studies that reported this cut-off more appropriate for classifying cerebrovascular risk groups. Results The interaction of arterial stiffness x age moderated the effect of physical activity on global cognition (β=-.89, SE=.42, p=.037) (Model: R2=.15, p=.018). Physical activity had a positive effect on cognition in younger-older adults (aged 60 to 68.5 years) with cf-PWV>8.5 m/s (β=.57, SE=.222, p=.011, 95% CI.133 to 1.014) and on older-older adults (aged 68.6 to 75 years) with cf-PWV<8.5 m/s (β=.49, SE=.190, p=.010, 95% CI=.116 to .869). Conclusions Identifying the right age groups and arterial stiffness levels at which physical activity can have beneficial effects on cognition is a key step in providing tailored behavioral interventions.

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Exploring Cognitively Loaded Physical Activity Compared With Control to Improve Global Cognitive Function in Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine ◽

10.1177/1559827619876887 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 155982761987688

Author(s):

Kristina Zawaly ◽

Richard Fortier ◽

Stephen Buetow ◽

Lynette Tippett ◽

Ngaire Kerse

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Global Cognitive Function ◽

Global Cognition

Objective. A systematic review with a meta-analysis explored effects of cognitively loaded physical activity interventions on global cognition in community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years of age) experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared to any control. Methods. A literature search was conducted in 4 databases (MEDLINE [OvidSP], PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [Wiley]) from inception until January 30, 2018. The meta-analysis was conducted with Review Manager 5.3. Results. Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 547 participants were identified. The interventions ranged from 4 to 52 weeks. Baseline and initial follow-up assessments were used. The primary pooled analysis of all RCTs demonstrated a nonsignificant trivial effect (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.44 to 0.58) favoring the intervention. In pooled subanalysis of 4 RCTs (n = 405) using the same global cognition measure (Mini-Mental State Examination) and duration of intervention >12 weeks, the intervention group achieved a small but significant improvement for global cognition (SMD 0.45, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.75). Conclusion. When all the RCTs were pooled, the effect of cognitively loaded physical activity intervention on global cognitive function in older adults with MCI remained unclear. The subgroup analysis provides translation evidence for future RCT study designs.

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