Does APOE ɛ4 Status Change How 24-Hour Time-Use Composition Is Associated with Cognitive Function? An Exploratory Analysis Among Middle-to-Older Adults

Abstract

Background: The 24 h time-use composition of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep is linked to cognitive function in adults and may contribute to future dementia risk. However, the impact of reallocating time between behaviors may differ depending on an individual’s genetic dementia risk. Objective: To explore if there is an interaction between 24 h time-use composition and genetic dementia risk in relation to cognitive function, and to simulate how time-reallocations are associated with cognitive function across different levels of genetic dementia risk. Methods: Cross-sectional global cognition, executive function, genetic dementia risk (at least one apolipoprotein (APOE) ɛ4 allele versus none) and 7 days of 24 h accelerometry (average daily time-use composition of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity, sedentary time, sleep) were collected from 82 adults (65.6±7.5 years, 49 females). Linear regression was used to explore the relationship between time-use composition and cognitive measures, testing for interaction between APOE ɛ4 status and time-use composition. The models were used to simulate time reallocations in both APOE ɛ4 status groups. Results: The 24 h time-use composition was associated with global cognition (F = 2.4, p = 0.02) and executive function (F = 2.6, p = 0.01). For both measures, the association differed according to genetic risk (interactions p < 0.001). In both APOE ɛ4 groups, reallocating time to MVPA was beneficially associated with measures of cognitive function, but associations were larger among those with at least one APOE ɛ4 allele. Conclusion: Genetic dementia risk may impact the effectiveness of activity interventions. Increasing MVPA may provide greater benefits among those with higher genetic dementia risk.

Twenty-four-hour time-use composition and cognitive function in older adults: cross-sectional findings of the ACTIVate study

“…Few studies have examined 24-h day time use against cognitive function in older adults, and only one of these has used CoDA ( Dumuid et al, 2022 ). Our findings of no associations contradict the few previous studies that reported associations between time-use composition and cognitive function in healthy older adults ( Fanning et al, 2017 ; Wei et al, 2021 ).…”

“…For example, in participants who engage in lower levels of MVPA per day (i.e., 30 min/day), reallocating an additional 15 min of MVPA per day equates to a 50% increase in total MVPA, whereas for those with a baseline level of 90 min of MVPA per day, reallocating an additional 15 min is equivalent to a ∼16% increase only. Additionally, Dumuid et al (2022) recruited a sample from a wider age range (50–80 years), across a range of cardiovascular risk profiles (“low” and “elevated” cardiovascular disease risk), with a subsequently lower level of cognitive function (mean ACE-III score = 91). Taken together it is likely that the recruitment of a highly active, high-performing sample in the current study contributed to the largely null findings.…”

“…Only one study has captured 24-h time use using device-based measures and investigated these relationships using a CoDA approach. Dumuid et al (2022) reported that 24-h time-use composition was associated with global cognition and executive function in a sample of middle-to-older adults. Predictive modelling indicated that more time in MVPA and less time in LPA was beneficial for cognitive function, and that this relationship was more pronounced in people at higher genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease (carrying an APOE ε4 allele) ( Dumuid et al, 2022 ).…”

“… Dumuid et al (2022) reported that 24-h time-use composition was associated with global cognition and executive function in a sample of middle-to-older adults. Predictive modelling indicated that more time in MVPA and less time in LPA was beneficial for cognitive function, and that this relationship was more pronounced in people at higher genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease (carrying an APOE ε4 allele) ( Dumuid et al, 2022 ). Together, these studies highlight the importance of simultaneously considering all behaviours across the 24-h day against cognitive function.…”

Gender specific factors contributing to cognitive resilience in APOE ɛ4 positive older adults in a population-based sample

“…Further research and replication may be necessary to understand why mild physical activity may be more beneficial for cognitive resilience than vigorous physical activity in older APOE ɛ4 positive men. This finding may also be confounded by other variables associated with physically active time vs physically inactive time such as sedentary behaviour and/or sleep which have also been linked to cognition 24 . While we only have self-report data on physical activity in this dataset, recent advances in technology mean that it is possible to objectively measure daily activity and time use with through wearable devices which may help untangle these effects (e.g.…”