Leisure-time physical activity sustained since midlife and preservation of cognitive function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Priya Palta; A Richey Sharrett; Jennifer A Deal; Kelly R Evenson; Kelley Pettee Gabriel; Aaron R Folsom; Alden L Gross; B Gwen Windham; David Knopman; Thomas H Mosley; Gerardo Heiss

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.08.008

Leisure-time physical activity sustained since midlife and preservation of cognitive function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Alzheimers Dement. 2019 Feb;15(2):273-281. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.08.008. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: priya_palta@unc.edu.
² Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁴ Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA.
⁵ Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
⁶ Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
⁷ Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: We tested the hypotheses that higher levels of and persistence of midlife leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) are associated long-term with lower cognitive decline and less incident dementia.

Methods: A total of 10,705 participants (mean age: 60 years) had LTPA (no, low, middle, or high) measured in 1987-1989 and 1993-1995. LTPA was assessed in relation to incident dementia and 14-year change in general cognitive performance.

Results: Over a median follow-up of 17.4 years, 1063 dementia cases were observed. Compared with no LTPA, high LTPA in midlife was associated with lower incidence of dementia (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.71 [0.61, 0.86]) and lower declines in general cognitive performance (-0.07 standard deviation difference [-0.12 to -0.04]). These associations were stronger when measured against persistence of midlife LTPA over 6 years.

Discussion: LTPA is a readily modifiable factor associated inversely with long-term dementia incidence and cognitive decline.

Keywords: Cognitive decline; Cohort study; Dementia; Epidemiology; Physical activity.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Atherosclerosis / epidemiology*
Cognition / physiology*
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Humans
Leisure Activities*
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Factors

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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