Household physical activity is positively associated with gray matter volume in older adults

Abstract

Background Total physical activity is positively associated with brain volume and cognition in older adults. While we have ample evidence that recreational physical activity influences brain health, the contributions of other daily activities are less understood. In particular, the associations between household physical activity and brain health in older adults is underexplored. The purpose of this study was to identify associations between household physical activity, brain volume, and cognition in a sample of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Methods We report data from 66 cognitively unimpaired older adults (71 ± 4 years) who participated in a health evaluation, cognitive assessment, and structural brain imaging. Physical activity was assessed using the Phone-FITT questionnaire and separated into household and recreational physical activity. We quantified whole brain volume, gray matter volume, and white matter volume, and assessed cognitive performance in four domains: memory, working memory/attention, processing speed, and executive function. Associations between physical activity, brain volume, and cognition were investigated in an omnibus approach using two multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) models. The first model assessed the associations between physical activity and brain volume adjusting for age, sex, Framingham Risk score (FRS) and intracranial volume. The second model assessed the associations between physical activity and overall cognitive performance adjusting for age, sex, FRS and education. Post hoc regression analyses were conducted to investigate significant MANOVA results. We also conducted further regression analyses to investigate associations with hippocampal and frontal lobe volume. Results Household, but not recreational, physical activity was positively associated with brain volume measurements (F = 3.07, p = .035), specifically gray matter volume (t = 2.51, p = .015). Further exploratory analyses identified that household physical activity was associated with hippocampal (p = .015) and frontal lobe (p = .010) volume. No significant relationships were observed between household or recreational physical activity and cognition. Conclusion Time spent engaging in household physical activity was positively associated with brain volume, specifically gray matter volume, in older adults. Highlighting the benefits associated with household chores may motivate older adults to be more active by providing a more attainable, low risk form of physical activity.

Cross-sectional associations of housework with cognitive, physical and sensorimotor functions in younger and older community-dwelling adults: the Yishun Study

“…Regardless of intensity, higher levels of housework activities were associated with higher global cognition, among our population of older adults. Earlier studies observed that lower levels of housework activities were associated with mild cognitive impairment, cognitive decline and lower grey matter volume among older adults, 11 27 28 suggesting a positive association between housework activities and cognitive function, plausibly through an increase in brain volume, as observed with exercise interventions in older adults. 29 30 However, the positive associations between housework and cognition were not apparent in younger adults in our population.…”

“…[7][8][9] Few studies have examined the independent effects of non-recreational activity, such as housework tasks, on age-associated decline in functional ability. [10][11][12] Furthermore, although the effects of exercise intensity have been widely investigated, 1 none of the studies investigated the associations between housework intensity and age-associated functional health. With the rapidly ageing population and increasing life expectancy worldwide, approaches to promote healthy ageing, which centres on the maintenance of functional ability, are urgently needed.…”

“…Additionally, single bout of housework and chronic housework are associated with improved cognition, brain volume and executive function, and negatively associated with frailty. [10][11][12] Regardless of country income levels, higher levels of non-recreational PA were associated with a graded reduction in mortality and cardiovascular diseases, suggesting the potential role of non-recreational PA, such as housework, on improving health outcomes even in high-income countries. 5 Housework may also confer benefits on physical and mental functions among older adults in a high-income country such as Singapore.…”

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise with brain white matter in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Seventeen studies have investigated the associations between PACE and WM volume. Nine studies reported significant positive associations (Balbim et al, 2021 ; Benedict et al, 2013 ; Demirakca et al, 2014 ; Erickson et al, 2007 ; Gow et al, 2012 ; Gu et al, 2020 ; Ho et al, 2011 ; Tian et al, 2015 ; Zhu et al, 2015 ), while the remaining eight did not observe any significant outcomes (Bugg & Head, 2011 ; Colcombe et al, 2003 ; Gordon et al, 2008 ; Jochem et al, 2017 ; Koblinsky et al, 2021 ; Pentikäinen et al, 2017 ; Tarumi et al, 2021 ; Wittfeld et al, 2020 ). Across studies, PACE was associated with increased WMV within particular regions including posterior cingulate gyrus (Balbim et al, 2021 ; Demirakca et al, 2014 ), temporal and parietal (Ho et al, 2011 ; Tian et al, 2015 ), corona radiata (Ho et al, 2011 ), and prefrontal and genu of corpus callosum (CC) (Erickson et al, 2007 ).…”

Association between Lebanese Mediterranean Diet and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Lebanese Older Adults—A Preliminary Study

“…In addition, the 95% CI obtained is very wide which could indicate variance in the data. More importantly, house chores are considered as main leisure activities among the older population [ 53 , 54 ], and were shown to be associated with health benefits [ 55 ], hence cannot be discarded [ 55 , 56 ]. For the aforementioned reasons, the remaining discussion will focus mainly on the results of the analyses performed using the frailty index as developed by Fried et al [ 5 ].…”