Physical Activity, Cognitive Activity, and Cognitive Decline in a Biracial Community Population

Abstract

Background: Findings from studies investigating whether physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline in old age have been inconsistent. Objective: To examine whether participation in physical activity by older adults reduces the rate of cognitive decline after accounting for participation in cognitively stimulating activities. Design: A prospective population study conducted from August 1993 to January 2003, with an average follow-up of 6.4 years. Setting: A biracial community population on the south side of Chicago. Participants: Participants were 4055 communitydwelling adults 65 years and older who were able to walk across a small room and had participated in at least 2 of the 3 follow-up assessments. Main Outcome Measure: Annual rate of cognitive change as measured by a global cognitive score, which consisted of averaged standardized scores from 4 cognitive tests. Results: In a mixed model adjusted for age, sex, race, and education, each additional physical activity hour per week was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline by 0.0007 U/y (P=.04). However, with further adjustments (1) for participation in cognitive activities (Ù ␤=.0006, P= .10), (2) for depression and vascular diseases (Ù ␤=.0005, P =.19), and (3) by excluding participants whose global cognitive score at baseline was at or below the 10th percentile (Ù ␤=.0002, P=.45), the coefficients were smaller and no longer statistically significant. Conclusion: These data do not support the hypothesis that physical activity alone protects against cognitive decline among older adults.

TNF-α and Microglial Hormetic Involvement in Neurological Health & Migraine

“…For example, exercise is sufficient to retard development of cardiovascular disease (Thompson et al 2003). However, physical activity alone may not be adequate for neuroprotection from EE (Sturman et al 2005). Instead, learning (van Praag et al 2000) may be the key component by which EE (i.e., increased intellectual, physical, and social activity) triggers neuroprotection.…”

Atividade física e mental no risco de demência em idosos

“…Isso pode ser explicado pela dificuldade na separação das atividades físicas sem qualquer estímulo cognitivo, das que possuem um componente cognitivo em sua realização. Quando foi analisada a influência de atividades predominantemente físicas (como caminhada, corrida, ciclismo e natação), não foi demonstrada redução significativa no declínio cognitivo 20 . Porém, a diferença na intensidade e duração do estímulo físico nos diversos estudos pode explicar os diferentes resultados encontrados.…”

“…Verificou-se o grau de atividade física e mental. Para tais fins, utilizaram-se questionários validados em outros estudos [18][19][20][21] . Para alcançar os objetivos do estudo, 303 idosos, que atendiam aos critérios do trabalho, foram distribuídos em três grupos:…”

“…A atividade mental produtiva foi avaliada por um questionário elaborado e classificado de acordo com estudos de Sturman et al 20 e Wilson et al 21 , igualmente modificado. Com isso, foi definido que os entrevistados enquadrados no grupo 3 deveriam exercer sua função desde os 65 anos, pelo menos três vezes por semana, mais de três horas por dia, incluindo: ler jornais e livros; escrever; participar de jogos que requeiram atividade intelectual; participar de grupos de discussão; fazer palavras cruzadas; frequentar, com participação ativa, eventos culturais e cursos etc.…”

Potential factors that may promote successful cognitive aging

“…Such factors include mental stimulation, 32 cognitive leisure activities, [19][20][21][33][34][35][36] social stimulation, 37 a healthy diet rich in fish and antioxidants, 38,39 good sleep hygiene, 40 cognitive remediation, 41 and physical activity; [42][43][44] likewise, the absence of such positive factors promotes negative neuroplasticity. 17,45 Landua and colleagues examined the association between lifetime cognitive engagement on β-amyloid (ie, the protein associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology) deposition in young adults, Notes: + contributes to positive neuroplasticity which supports cognitive reserve; -contributes to negative neuroplasticity which does not support cognitive reserve.…”