title: Epidemiological investigation of muscle-strengthening activities and cognitive function among older adults.
abstract: Limited research has examined the association of muscle-strengthening activities and executive cognitive function among older adults, which was this study's purpose. Data from the 1999-2002 NHANES were employed (N = 2157; 60-85 years). Muscle-strengthening activities were assessed via self-report, with cognitive function assessed using the digit symbol substitution test. After adjusting for age, age-squared, gender, race-ethnicity, poverty level, body mass index, C-reactive protein, smoking, comorbid illness and physical activity, muscle-strengthening activities were significantly associated with cognitive function (βadjusted = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.7-5.1; P < 0.001). Compared to those not engaging in aerobic exercise and not meeting muscle-strengthening activity guidelines, those doing 1 (βadjusted = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.9-5.4; P < 0.001) and both (βadjusted = 6.6; 95% CI: 4.8-8.3; P < 0.001) of these behaviors had a significantly higher executive cognitive function score. In conclusion, muscle-strengthening activities are associated with executive cognitive function among older U.S. adults, underscoring the importance of promoting both aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activities to older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, Center for Health Behavior Research, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA pdloprin@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D055070:Resistance Training; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales
keywords: Epidemiology; cognitive function; physical activity; resistance exercise