Hip Accelerometry Activity Patterns Improve Machine Learning Prediction of 1-Year MoCA Score Change

We tested whether free-living hip accelerometry measures improved prediction of 1-year change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores beyond clinically available information. We analyzed data (n=126) from predominantly African American (78.2%) older adults without moderate-severe dementia residing near our geriatrics clinic. Age (73.6 ±6.1 years), gender, education, comorbidities, income, and MoCA performance were collected at baseline; participants then wore a right hip, triaxial Actigraph accelerometer (30Hz) continuously for 7 days. A MoCA was repeated at 1 year. Six measures were calculated from the daytime (7am-5pm) data: mean/variance of hourly counts per minute, mean/variance of daily percent of time spent in the lowest activity quartile, and mean/variance of daily percent of time spent in the highest activity quartile. In a random forest model containing baseline MoCA, demographics and comorbidities, the accelerometry measures improved prediction of 1-year MoCA performance by ~17.8%. Accelerometry data may be clinically useful for predicting early cognitive decline.

Comparison of self-reported & device-based, measured physical activity among children in Germany

Background As children show a more complex but less structured movement behavior than adults, assessment of their many spontaneous and impulsive movements is a challenge for physical activity (PA) assessment. Since neither questionnaires nor accelerometers enable optimal detection of all facets of PA, a multimodal, combined approach of self-reported and device-based methods is recommended. Based on the number of days on which the participants reached the physical activity (PA) values given in the WHO guideline, this study examines 1) the difference between self-reported and device-based, measured PA and 2) whether PA differences between age and gender groups obtained by two methods are comparable. Methods Participants aged 6–17 years were randomly chosen and data were collected representatively at 167 sample points throughout Germany within the Motorik-Modul Study. PA of n = 2694 participants (52.3% female) was measured using the ActiGraph accelerometer (ACC) and a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ). The sample was divided into three age groups (6–10 yrs. n = 788, 11–13 yrs. n = 823, 14–17 yrs. n = 1083). Numbers of days per week with at least 60 min moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) were analyzed for both methods. Results Only every 25th respondent (4%) reaches the WHO standard of 60 min MVPA every day if measured with ACC. Self-reported PA was slightly higher (9%) (meanPAQ = 3.82 days; meanACC = 2.34 days; Fmethod = 915.85; p = <.001; fCohen = .64). The differences between the methods are significantly smaller in younger children than in the older age groups (Fage = 264.2, p < .001; fCohen = .48). The older the subjects are, the lower is the proportion of those who meet the WHO guideline on each day, with girls meeting the guideline less frequently than boys in all age groups. Conclusion Children and adolescents living in Germany show a very low adherence to the WHO guideline on PA. While younger children are much more active with their free play, especially children over 10 years of age and especially girls should be the target of programs to increase PA.

Temperament, physical activity and sedentary time in preschoolers – the DAGIS study

Background Identifying individual characteristics linked with physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (SED) can assist in designing health-enhancing interventions for children. We examined cross-sectional associations of temperament characteristics with 1) PA and SED and 2) meeting the PA recommendation in Finnish children. Methods Altogether, 697 children (age: 4.7 ± 0.9 years, 51.6% boys) within the Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools (DAGIS) study were included. Parents responded to the Very Short Form of the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire consisting of three temperament dimensions: surgency, negative affectivity, and effortful control. PA and SED were assessed for 7 days (24 h per day) using a hip-worn ActiGraph accelerometer, and the daily minutes spent in light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and SED were calculated. The PA recommendation was defined as having PA at least 180 min/day, of which at least 60 min/day was in moderate-to-vigorous PA. Adjusted linear and logistic regression analyses were applied. Results Surgency was associated with LPA (B = 3.80, p = 0.004), MPA (B = 4.87, p < 0.001), VPA (B = 2.91, p < 0.001), SED (B = − 11.45, p < 0.001), and higher odds of meeting the PA recommendation (OR = 1.56, p < 0.001). Effortful control was associated with MPA (B = − 3.63, p < 0.001), VPA (B = − 2.50, p < 0.001), SED (B = 8.66, p < 0.001), and lower odds of meeting the PA recommendation (OR = 0.61, p = 0.004). Negative affectivity was not associated with PA, SED, or meeting the PA recommendation. Conclusion Children’s temperament should be considered when promoting PA in preschoolers. Special attention should be paid to children scoring high in the temperament dimension effortful control.

Correction to: Validation of the Chinese version of the low physical activity questionnaire (LoPAQ) with ActiGraph accelerometer in hemodialysis patients

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Strengthening Pupils’ Physical Activity through Outdoor Education

The time pupils spend at school provides a very small benefit to pupils’ movement activity. At a time when many school-age children lack physical activity, it is necessary to think about how to integrate more movement into the period that the child spends at school. The paper is based on the assumption that outdoor education can contribute to the development of movement activity of pupils, and the paper aims to determine to what extent. For model pupils, the calorie count and metabolic discharge, including sedentary analysis, were recorded through an ActiGraph accelerometer during 4-hour lessons of different types of education days. The result is that outdoor education can serve as an appropriate complement to learning that contributes to the development of pupils’ knowledge and skills while working in a real environment but also acts as a mean of increasing the possibilities for movement for pupils during their schooling.

Accelerometer output and its association with energy expenditure in persons with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease

Objective This study examined the association between ActiGraph accelerometer output and energy expenditure across different speeds of walking in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and further generated cut-points that represent a metric for quantifying time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among persons with PD. Methods The sample included 30 persons with mild-to-moderate PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages 2–3) and 30 adults without PD matched by sex and age. All participants completed 5 minutes of quiet, seated rest and then underwent three, 6-minute bouts of walking on a treadmill at three different speeds relative to the individual’s self-selected pace. Activity counts were measured using an ActiGraph accelerometer worn at the waist level on the least affected side for persons with PD and the dominant side for controls. The rate of oxygen consumption, or energy expenditure, was measured using a portable, open-circuit spirometry system. Results Our results indicated a strong association between activity counts and energy expenditure for persons with PD (R2 = 0.87) and controls (R2 = 0.89). However, the significant difference in slopes resulted in a lower cut-point of 1,354 counts·min-1 for persons with PD than the cut-point of 2,010 counts·min-1 for controls. Conclusion Our results support the application of the disease-specific cut-point for quantifying the amount of time spent in MVPA using ActiGraph accelerometers among persons with mild-to-moderate PD. Such an application may provide accurate estimates of MVPA in this population, and better inform future research examining the possible determinants and consequences of physical activity as well as testing of interventions for changing MVPA in PD.

Exploring feelings of pleasure and purpose associated with older people’s activities using ecological momentary analysis: an observational study

Momentary feelings of pleasure and purpose can be sources of intrinsic motivation, but momentary purpose is rarely studied. Activities, contexts and feelings of retired/semi-retired adults (n=67, aged 50-78y) were captured using ecological momentary assessment. Participants provided 2,065 valid responses to six daily smartphone surveys for seven days. Physical activity was measured by waist-worn Actigraph accelerometer. Pleasure (measured by affective happiness) and purpose outcomes were regressed on activities, context and potential confounding variables. Interactions between activities and contexts were explored.Participants were highly active: 98.5% met physical activity guidelines. Sedentary activities were negatively associated with sense of purpose, especially when indoors. However, social sedentary activities were positively associated with feelings of happiness. Active, social outdoor activities were positively associated with both outcomes. Less sedentary participants experienced greater happiness and purpose during all their activities. Context matters: active, social and outdoor activities seem to be more appealing to older adults.

No differences in physical activity between children with overweight and children of normal-weight

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in objectively measured physical activity and in self-reported physical activity between overweight and normal-weight children. Methods Data from a prospective cohort study including children, presenting at the participating general practices in the south-west of the Netherlands, were used. Children (aged 4–15 years) were categorized as normal-weight or overweight using age- and sex specific cut-off points. They wore an ActiGraph accelerometer for one week to register physical activity, and filled out a diary for one week about physical activity. Results A total of 57 children were included in this study. Overweight children spent significantly less percentage time per day in sedentary behavior (β − 1.68 (95%CI -3.129, − 0.07)). There were no significant differences in percentage time per day spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (β 0.33 (− 0.11, 0.78)). No significant differences were found between children of normal-weight and overweight in self-reported measures of physical activity. Conclusions Overweight children are not less physically active than normal-weight children, which may be associated with the risen awareness towards overweight/obesity and with implemented interventions for children with overweight/obesity.

Exploring Feelings of Pleasure and Purpose Associated With Older People’s Activities Using Ecological Momentary Analysis: An Observational Study

Momentary feelings of pleasure and purpose can be sources of intrinsic motivation, but momentary purpose is rarely studied. Activities, contexts, and feelings of retired/semiretired adults (n = 67, aged 50–78 years) were captured using ecological momentary assessment. Participants provided 2,065 valid responses to six daily smartphone surveys for 7 days. Physical activity was measured by waist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer. Pleasure (measured by affective happiness) and purpose outcomes were regressed on activities, context, and potential confounding variables. Interactions between activities and contexts were explored. Participants were highly active: 98.5% met physical activity guidelines. Sedentary activities were negatively associated with sense of purpose, especially when indoors. However, social sedentary activities were positively associated with feelings of happiness. Active, social outdoor activities were positively associated with both outcomes. Less sedentary participants experienced greater happiness and purpose during all their activities. Context matters: active, social, and outdoor activities seem to be more appealing to older adults.