Associations Between Local Area Deprivation and Physical Activity Participation in People with Cognitive Impairment in the North East of England

Abstract

Background: Promoting physical activity, such as habitual walking behaviors, in people with cognitive impairment may support their ability to remain independent with a good quality of life for longer. However, people with cognitive impairment participate in less physical activity compared to cognitively unimpaired older adults. The local area in which people live may significantly impact abilities to participate in physical activity. For example, people who live in more deprived areas may have less safe and walkable routes. Objective: To examine this further, this study aimed to explore associations between local area deprivation and physical activity in people with cognitive impairment and cognitively unimpaired older adults (controls). Methods: 87 participants with cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment or dementia) and 27 older adult controls from the North East of England were included in this analysis. Participants wore a tri-axial wearable accelerometer (AX3, Axivity) on their lower backs continuously for seven days. The primary physical activity outcome was daily step count. Individuals’ neighborhoods were linked to UK government area deprivation statistics. Hierarchical Bayesian models assessed the association between local area deprivation and daily step count in people with cognitive impairment and controls. Results: Key findings indicated that there was no association between local area deprivation and daily step count in people with cognitive impairment, but higher deprivation was associated with lower daily steps for controls. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cognitive impairment may be associated with lower participation in physical activity which supersedes the influence of local area deprivation observed in normal aging.

Improving Wearable Solutions with Nudging Actions in the Chronic Care Management: The SENIOR Project

“…Moreover mental activities may protect against mild cognitive impairment. In fact engaging in mentally and physically stimulating activities, even late in life, may protect against new-onset mild cognitive impairment, according to different studies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Particularly, an interesting study [1] found that cognitively normal people aged 70 years or older who engaged in computer use, craft activities, social activities, and playing games had a decreased risk of developing MCI.…”

Characterizing Walking Behaviors in Aged Residential Care Using Accelerometry, With Comparison Across Care Levels, Cognitive Status, and Physical Function: Cross-Sectional Study

“…In contrast, people with mild cognitive impairment in the community show no differences in walking volumes compared to people who undergo normal aging, but they do demonstrate different patterns and greater variability in their walking behaviors [ 9 ]. By looking beyond the volume of walking activities to pattern and variability, we may garner information about people’s routines and the time they spend indoors and outdoors (based on walking bout lengths) [ 8 9 11-14 undefined undefined undefined ]; we can then examine the impact of cognitive and physical impairments on these behaviors [ 14 ]. This information can contribute toward the development of more holistic interventions to support mobility in ARC.…”