title: Association of leisure-time physical activity with cognition by apolipoprotein-E genotype in persons aged 60 years and over: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that aerobic-related leisure-time physical activity (PA) is associated with better cognitive function and that the effect varies among apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of persons examined in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III; 1988-1994).
  
  
  METHODS
  US noninstitutionalized population.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a sample of 7159, aged ≥60 years, we analyzed data for 1799 older American men and women who had information on PA, a short mental status examination (SMSE), and were genotyped at the apolipoprotein E gene locus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the initial bivariate analysis, non-ɛ4 carriers and ɛ4-heterozygotes performed better than ɛ4-homozygotes in the 60-69 age group. After controlling for multiple confounders including mobility limitation, PA correlated with a higher SMSE score in non-ɛ4 carriers (P = 0.014), but not in ɛ4 carriers (P = 0.887). At ≥70 years, PA also correlated with higher adjusted SMSE scores in non-ɛ4 carriers (P = 0.02); but this association became nonsignificant after controlling for mobility limitation (P = 0.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a nationally representative sample, PA was associated with enhanced cognition, an effect that was differentially influenced by apolipoprotein E genotype. Experimental studies are needed to determine whether or not PA can attenuate cognitive decline.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC 20060, USA. tobisesan@howard.edu
authors.forename: Thomas O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Obisesan
authors.forename: Nisser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Umar
authors.forename: Nivedh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paluvoi
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gillum
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2 / Q000235:genetics*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4