Intense physical activity is associated with cognitive performance in the elderly

B.M. Brown; J.J. Peiffer; H.R. Sohrabi; A. Mondal; V.B. Gupta; S.R. Rainey-Smith; K. Taddei; S. Burnham; K.A. Ellis; C. Szoeke; C.L. Masters; D. Ames; C.C. Rowe; Ralph Martins

doi:10.1038/tp.2012.118

Intense physical activity is associated with cognitive performance in the elderly

B.M. Brown, J.J. Peiffer, H.R. Sohrabi, A. Mondal, V.B. Gupta, S.R. Rainey-Smith, K. Taddei, S. Burnham, K.A. Ellis, C. Szoeke, C.L. Masters, D. Ames, C.C. Rowe, Ralph Martins

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Abstract

Numerous studies have reported positive impacts of physical activity on cognitive function. However, the majority of these studies have utilised physical activity questionnaires or surveys, thus results may have been influenced by reporting biases. Through the objective measurement of routine levels of physical activity via actigraphy, we report a significant association between intensity, but not volume, of physical activity and cognitive functioning. A cohort of 217 participants (aged 60–89 years) wore an actigraphy unit for 7 consecutive days and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. The cohort was stratified into tertiles based on physical activity intensity. Compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of physical activity intensity, those in the highest tertile scored 9%, 9%, 6% and 21% higher on the digit span, digit symbol, Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) copy and Rey Figure Test 30-min recall test, respectively. Statistically, participants in the highest tertile of physical activity intensity performed significantly better on the following cognitive tasks: digit symbol, RCFT copy and verbal fluency test (all P

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	6pp
Journal	Translational Psychiatry
Volume	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2012.118
Publication status	Published - 20 Nov 2012

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abstract = "Numerous studies have reported positive impacts of physical activity on cognitive function. However, the majority of these studies have utilised physical activity questionnaires or surveys, thus results may have been influenced by reporting biases. Through the objective measurement of routine levels of physical activity via actigraphy, we report a significant association between intensity, but not volume, of physical activity and cognitive functioning. A cohort of 217 participants (aged 60–89 years) wore an actigraphy unit for 7 consecutive days and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. The cohort was stratified into tertiles based on physical activity intensity. Compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of physical activity intensity, those in the highest tertile scored 9%, 9%, 6% and 21% higher on the digit span, digit symbol, Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) copy and Rey Figure Test 30-min recall test, respectively. Statistically, participants in the highest tertile of physical activity intensity performed significantly better on the following cognitive tasks: digit symbol, RCFT copy and verbal fluency test (all P",

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Intense physical activity is associated with cognitive performance in the elderly. / Brown, B.M.; Peiffer, J.J.; Sohrabi, H.R.; Mondal, A.; Gupta, V.B.; Rainey-Smith, S.R.; Taddei, K.; Burnham, S.; Ellis, K.A.; Szoeke, C.; Masters, C.L.; Ames, D.; Rowe, C.C.; Martins, Ralph.

In: Translational Psychiatry, Vol. 2, 20.11.2012, p. 6pp.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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AU - Brown, B.M.

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AU - Ellis, K.A.

AU - Szoeke, C.

AU - Masters, C.L.

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AU - Rowe, C.C.

AU - Martins, Ralph

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