scholarly journals Relationship between cognitive performance and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Martins Alves ◽  
Luiza Alves da Silva ◽  
Tatiana Carvalho Reis Martins ◽  
Bruna Moretti Luchesi

Introduction: The aging process can result in the decline of cognitive function. Some factors may be beneficial for cognitive functioning in aging, such as physical activity. Objective: To analyze the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional and quantitative study, carried out in 2018/2019, with 491 older adults (≥60 years), registered in Primary Healthcare Units in Três Lagoas-MS. The older adults were divided into two groups: physically active (>150 minutes of moderate physical activity or >75 minutes of vigorous activity/week - n=320) and inactive (n=171), according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was also applied. T and chi-square tests were used to analyze the relationship between variables. Results: The physically active group were mostly women (60.8%), with an average of 69.7±6.9 years of age and 4.2±3.5 years of schooling. In the inactive group, the majority were women (59.7%), with 71.4±8.2 years of age and 4.0±4.2 of schooling. The groups were similar in terms of sex and education, but the inactive group was older (p=0.029). The active older adults had a mean of 23.7±3.8 points in the MMSE, and the inactive group, 21.9±4.6, with a significant difference (p <0.000), ndicating that the active group had a better cognitive performance. Conclusion: There is a relationship between being physically active and having a better cognitive performance. Physical activity in old age is related to benefits in several areas and must be incorporated into public health promotion and disease prevention policies.

Author(s):  
Ngeemasara Thapa ◽  
Boram Kim ◽  
Ja-Gyeong Yang ◽  
Hye-Jin Park ◽  
Minwoo Jang ◽  
...  

Our study examined the association between chronotype, daily physical activity, and the estimated risk of dementia in 170 community-dwelling older adults. Chronotype was assessed with the Horne–Östberg Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Daily physical activity (of over 3 METs) was measured with a tri-axial accelerometer. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) was used to measure the estimated risk of dementia. The evening chronotype, low daily physical activity, and dementia were positively associated with each other. The participants with low physical activity alongside evening preference had 3.05 to 3.67 times higher estimated risk of developing dementia, and participants with low physical activity and morning preference had 1.95 to 2.26 times higher estimated risk than those with high physical activity and morning preference. Our study design does not infer causation. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that chronotype and daily physical activity are predictors of the risk of having dementia in older adults aged 70 years and above.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evi Petersen ◽  
Gerhard Schoen ◽  
Gunnar Liedtke ◽  
Astrid Zech

Purpose Urban green space (UGS) shows to be a sustainable resource stimulating physical activity, health and quality of life in the general population. With regard to an aging European population, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between UGS, physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional survey data were provided by a sample from Hamburg (Germany), consisting of 272 adults aged⩾65 years. Respondents answered questions regarding HRQoL (Short Form 12), physical activity (German-PAQ-50+) and exposure to UGS. The authors applied a linear regression to analyse the relationship between weekly duration of exposure to UGS and physical activity. While controlling for confounding factors, the authors used a multivariate linear regression model to detect effects on HRQoL. Findings A significant effect (adjusted R2: 4.3 per cent; p-value⩽0.001) was found for weekly duration of exposure to UGS and weekly physical activity. Multiple linear regression showed significant positive effects of weekly duration of exposure to UGS (p=0.010) and weekly time of physical activity (p=0.017) on HRQoL. Age, sex and feeling of satisfaction were identified as relevant confounding factors. Research limitations/implications Future research should continue to explore the indicators that mediate an increase of physical activity and HRQoL in the heterogeneous age band of older adults. Practical implications Findings suggest that community-dwelling older adults are likely to benefit from higher amounts of time in UGS since it is positively associated with both physical activity and HRQoL. Therefore, urban planners should explicitly consider the demands of community-dwelling older adults towards UGS. Originality/value This study is one of the first to examine the relationship between UGS, physical activity and HRQoL in older adults.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzu-Ting Wu ◽  
I-Ju Chen ◽  
Shu-Ling Cho ◽  
Ai-Fu Chiou

Background: Poor health-promoting behaviors increase the risk of chronic disease and disability in older adults. Nevertheless, the predictors of health-promoting behaviors and their relationship with metabolic syndrome have been poorly characterized in older Taiwanese adults. Objective: To explore the determinants of health-promoting behaviors in community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan and the relationship of health-promoting behaviors with metabolic syndrome. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample of 200 community residents aged 60 years and over was recruited from two large communities in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Data collection included physical examination and a structured questionnaire including measures of health status, health-promoting behaviors, self-efficacy, social support, and metabolic syndrome. Results: Metabolic syndrome was found in 60% of older Taiwanese adults. These participants had higher scores in interpersonal relationships but lower scores in physical activity. Half of the health-promoting behaviors were explained by behavior-specific cognitions and affect, and 44% of behavior-specific cognitions and affect was explained by the health status of the older adult. Conclusions: Physical activity should be promoted in older Taiwanese adults. Positive behavior-specific cognitions and affect and better health status might impact the health-promoting behaviors of these adults.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nachalida Yukalang ◽  
Niruwan Turnbull ◽  
Wisit Thongkum ◽  
Adisorn Wongkongdech ◽  
Kukiat Tudpor

Older adults are relatively physically active compared to other age group. A lack of physical activity (PA) can cause chronic diseases including osteoarthritis of knee (OA knee) and might eventually reduce quality of life (QOL). This present study was aimed to investigate association between levels of PA and OA knee with levels of QOL in community-dwelling older adults. One thousand and sixty-seven community-dwelling older persons were recruited to this descriptive study. PA activity questionnaire was invented. Standardized Oxford knee score and World Health Organization’s Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to measure OA knee and QOL levels. Results showed that levels of PA in older adults were significantly associated with levels of OKS (χ2 = 78.565, P-value < .001) and levels of OA knee in older adults were significantly associated with levels of overall QOL (χ2 = 57.738, P-value < .001). Pearson’s correlation also showed interrelation among PA, OA knee, and QOL. In conclusion, PA, OA knee, and QOL are interrelated. Therefore, close monitoring and design of proper PA activity should be implemented in community-dwelling older adults with OA knee.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 544-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Kukihara ◽  
Niwako Yamawaki ◽  
Michiyo Ando ◽  
Yoshiko Tamura ◽  
Kumi Arita ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effects of resilience, morale, and sense of coherence on the relationship between physical activity and respondents’ perceived physical/mental health and depression among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. The study included 369 participants with an average age of 74 years from Kasuishimohara District in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. They completed a survey that included the Resilience Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Medical Outcomes Short Form 8, the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form), and a demographic questionnaire. The results of the path mediation analyses revealed that resilience and morale fully mediated the relationship between physical activity and perceived physical/mental health and depression. However, sense of coherence was not a significant mediator. Some intervention programs are suggested to maximize the effects of physical activity on one’s well-being. At-risk populations who need such programs are also discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 271-271
Author(s):  
Yuxiao Li ◽  
Minhui Liu ◽  
Christina Miyawaki ◽  
Xiaocao Sun ◽  
Tianxue Hou ◽  
...  

Abstract Frailty is a clinical syndrome that becomes increasingly common as people age. Subjective age refers to how young or old individuals experience themselves to be. It is associated with many risk factors of frailty, such as increased depression, worse cognitive function, and poorer psychological wellbeing. In this study, we examined the relationship between subjective age and frailty using the 2011-2015 waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Participants were community-dwelling older adults without frailty in the initial wave (N=1,165). Subjective age was measured by asking participants, “What age do you feel most of the time?” Based on the Fried five phenotypic criteria: exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, low physical activity, slow gait, and weak grip strength, frailty was categorized into robust=0, pre-frail=1 or 2; frail=3 or more criteria met. Participants were, on average, 74.1±6.5 years old, female (52%), and non-Hispanic White (81%). Eighty-five percent of the participants felt younger, and 3% felt older than their chronological age, but 41% of them were pre-frail/frail. Generalized estimating equations revealed that an “older” subjective age predicted a higher likelihood of pre-frailty and frailty (OR, 95%CI= 1.01, 1.01-1.02). In contrast, frailty predicted an “older” subjective age (OR, 95%CI= 2.97, 1.65-5.35) adjusting for demographics and health conditions. These findings suggest a bidirectional relationship between subjective age and frailty. Older people who feel younger than their chronological age are at reduced risk of becoming pre-frail/frail. Intervention programs to delay frailty progression should include strategies that may help older adults perceive a younger subjective age.


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