Physical activity in the elderly is associated with improved executive function and processing speed: the LADIS Study

• ObjectivesPhysical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline but may affect cognitive domains differently. We examined whether physical activity modifies processing speed, executive function and memory in a population of non-dementia elderly subjects with age-related white matter changes (ARWMC). MethodsData from the Leukoaraiosis And DISability (LADIS) study, a multicenter, European prospective cohort study aimed at examining the role of ARWMC in transition to disability, was used. Subjects in the LADIS study were clinically assessed yearly for 3years including MRI at baseline and 3-year follow-up. Physical activity was assessed at baseline, and cognitive compound scores at baseline and 3-year assessment were used. ResultsTwo-hundred-eighty-two subjects (age, y (mean (SD)): 73.1 (5.1); gender (f/m): 164/118); MMSE (mean (SD)): 28.3 (+/- 1.7)) who had not progressed to MCI or dementia, were included. Multiple variable linear regression analysis with baseline MMSE, education, gender, age, stroke, diabetes and ARWMC rating as covariates revealed that physical activity was associated with better scores at baseline and 3-year follow-up for executive function (baseline: : 0.39, 95% CI: 0.13-0.90, p=0.008; follow-up: : 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.38, p=0.001) and processing speed (baseline: : 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14-0.89, p=0.005; follow-up: : 0.15, 95% CI: 0.02-0.29, p=0.02) but not memory. When including baseline cognitive score as a covariate in the analysis of 3-year follow-up scores, executive function remained significant (: 0.11, 95% CI: 0-0.22, p=0.04). ConclusionOur findings confirm previous findings of a positive effect of physical activity on cognitive functions in elderly subjects, and further extends these by showing that the association is also present in patients with ARWMC. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

physical activity

cognitive

executive function

memory

processing speed

age-related white matter

CEREBRAL WHITE-MATTER

APOLIPOPROTEIN-E EPSILON-4

MILD COGNITIVE

IMPAIRMENT

OLDER-ADULTS

VASCULAR DEMENTIA

DISABILITY

EXERCISE

LEUKOARAIOSIS

DISEASE

FITNESS

Geriatrics & Gerontology

Gerontology

Psychiatry

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)