title: Physical activity and cognitive function in a cross-section of younger and older community-dwelling individuals.
abstract: Previous reports have indicated a small, positive relationship between physical activity and cognition. However, the majority of research has focused on older adults, with few studies examining this relationship during earlier periods of the life span. This study examined the relationship of physical activity to cognition in a cross-section of 241 community-dwelling individuals 15-71 years of age with a task requiring variable amounts of executive control. Data were analyzed with multiple regression, which controlled for age, sex, and IQ. Participants reported their physical activity behavior and were tested for reaction time (RT) and response accuracy on congruent and incongruent conditions of a flanker task, which manipulates interference control. After controlling for confounding variables, an age-related slowing of RT was observed during both congruent and incongruent flanker conditions. However, physical activity was associated with faster RT during these conditions, regardless of age. Response accuracy findings indicated that increased physical activity was associated with better performance only during the incongruent condition for the older cohort. Findings suggest that physical activity may be beneficial to both general and selective aspects of cognition, particularly among older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3722-5612
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hillman
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9819-9625
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pontifex
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7582-2365
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Posthuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit.
authors.forename: Janine H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Stubbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit.
authors.forename: Dorret I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Boomsma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit.
authors.forename: Eco J C
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6022-2666
authors.initials: EJC
authors.lastname: de Geus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time