title: Light physical activity is positively associated with cognitive performance in older community dwelling adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the associations between an objective measure of different intensities of physical activity, upper- and lower-limb muscle strength and psychomotor performance and set-shifting domains of cognitive executive function in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort Study, 188 community-dwelling older adults (53.7% female; mean age±SD 63.98±7.3 years) undertook 7-day physical activity behaviour monitoring using an accelerometer. Dynamometers were used to assess leg extension strength. The Trail Maker Tests were used to measure psychomotor processing speed and set-shifting performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When controlling for age, smoking history, alcohol intake, educational achievement and neuropsychological functioning, higher levels of light physical activity, but not sedentary behaviour or moderate or vigorous physical activity, was found to be associated with better set-shifting performance. Neither physical activity behaviour or muscle strength were found to be associated with psychomotor performance. In addition, older age, greater alcohol intake, and lower levels of educational attainment, verbal learning and memory performance were significantly associated with lower scores on the set-shifting task; whereas older age and reduced neuropsychological functioning were associated with lower psychomotor processing speed scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Light physical activity is associated with higher executive functioning in community-dwelling older adults and this strengthens the evidence supporting exercise as a neuroprotective agent. Further studies are needed to understand why light physical activity behaviour positively influences executive functioning, and how such physical activity can be implemented into the daily routine of older adults.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Exercise Science Research Program, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Liam G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Active Living and Public Health Research Program, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Butson
authors.affiliation: Active Living and Public Health Research Program, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Australia; Psychology Department, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom. Electronic address: rpolman@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Remco C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.affiliation: Active Living and Public Health Research Program, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Australia; Discipline of Exercise Science, School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Australia.
authors.forename: Isaac S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.affiliation: Active Living and Public Health Research Program, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Australia; Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borkoles
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Australia; NorthWest Academic Centre and Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, The University of Melbourne and Western Health, Sunshine Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013648:Tasmania; D014145:Trail Making Test
keywords: Accelerometer; Cognition; Executive function; Exercise; Muscle strength