Physical activity and executive function in aging: the MOBILIZE Boston Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between physical activity and cognition, specifically executive function, and the possible mediating role of factors such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors, chronic pain, and depressive symptoms.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Population-based study of individuals aged 70 and older in the Boston area.


METHODS
Older community-dwelling adults (n=544; mean age 78, 62% female).


METHODS
Presence of heart disease (self-reported physician diagnosed), pain, and depressive symptomatology were assessed using interviewer-administered questions. Blood pressure was measured. Engagement in physical activity was determined using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Cognitive function was measured using a battery of neuropsychological tests.


RESULTS
The older adults who engaged in more physical activity had significantly better performance on all cognitive tests, except for Letter Fluency and the memory test of delayed recall, after adjusting for age, sex, education, and total number of medications. With further adjustment for CVD and CVD risk factors (heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and hypertension), pain, and depressive symptoms, PASE score remained significantly associated with executive function tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Even after multivariate adjustment, neuropsychological tests that were executive in nature were positively associated with physical activity participation in this cohort of older community-dwelling adults. In contrast, delayed recall of episodic memory was not associated with physical activity, supporting the idea that the relationship with executive function represents a specific biologically determined relationship.
Eggermont
Laura H P
LH
Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. lhp.eggermont@psy.vu.nl
Milberg
William P
WP
Lipsitz
Lewis A
LA
Scherder
Erik J A
EJ
Leveille
Suzanne G
SG
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity
Stroke. 2008 Feb;39(2):349-54
18174483
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003 Feb;58(2):176-80
12586857
J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 2008 Jul;34(4):809-22
18605870
Am J Geriatr Cardiol. 2001 Sep-Oct;10(5):245-9; quiz 250-2
11528282
Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Dec 15;168(12):1444-51
18953059
J Aging Phys Act. 2005 Jul;13(3):294-313
16192657
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2006;30(4):562-75
16359729
Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Jan 15;59(1):129-35
18163415
Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol Behav Neurol. 2002 Mar;15(1):39-43
11877550
Br J Rheumatol. 1993 Sep;32(9):771-3
8369886
Gerontologist. 2006 Dec;46(6):801-14
17169935
Gerontology. 2009;55(1):64-72
18566534
Public Health Nurs. 2008 May-Jun;25(3):221-34
18477373
J Psychiatr Res. 1975 Nov;12(3):189-98
1202204
J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2007 Sep;13(5):747-57
17521485
BMC Geriatr. 2008 Jul 18;8:16
18638389
J Clin Epidemiol. 1993 Feb;46(2):153-62
8437031
Arthritis Rheum. 1990 Feb;33(2):160-72
2306288
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2007;31(4):485-97
17306372
J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2007 Mar;47(1):84-90
17369803
Psychol Sci. 2003 Mar;14(2):125-30
12661673
JAMA. 1997 Jan 1;277(1):25-31
8980206
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008 Apr;16(4):318-30
18378557
JAMA. 2003 May 21;289(19):2560-72
12748199
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Oct;51(10):1439-44
14511165
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Mar;53(3):410-5
15743282
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jan;9(1):58-65
18094706
Pain Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;7(1):60-70
16533199
Ann Intern Med. 2001 Dec 18;135(12):1038-46
11747382