The relationship between physical activity and cognition in older Latinos.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between minutes spent participating in light and moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA) and cognition in older Latinos, controlling for demographics, chronic health problems, and acculturation.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was used. Participants were self-identified Latinos, without disability, who had a score less than 14 on a 21-point Mini-Mental State Examination. Participants were recruited from predominantly Latino communities in Chicago at health fairs, senior centers, and community centers. PA was measured with an accelerometer, worn for 7 days. Episodic memory and executive function (inference control, inattention, and word fluency) were measured with validated cognitive tests.


RESULTS
Participants were 174 Latino men (n = 46) and women (n = 128) aged 50-84 years (M = 66 years). After adjusting for control variables (demographics, chronic health problems) and other cognitive measures, regression analyses revealed that minutes per day of light-intensity PA (r = -.51), moderate/vigorous PA (r = -.56), and counts per minute (r=-.62) were negatively associated with lower word fluency.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that the cognitive benefits of both light-intensity PA and moderate/vigorous PA may be domain-specific.
Women, Children, and Family Nursing, College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. joellen_wilbur@rush.edu
JoEllen
J
Wilbur
David X
DX
Marquez
Louis
L
Fogg
Robert S
RS
Wilson
Beth A
BA
Staffileno
Ruby L
RL
Hoyem
Martha Clare
MC
Morris
Eduardo E
EE
Bustamante
Alexis F
AF
Manning
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002641:Chicago; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011594:Psychometrics; D013997:Time Factors