Effect of physical activity intervention on cognitive function in China: A cluster randomized trial

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONCurrent randomized trial evidence on the effect of physical activity (PA) intervention on cognitive function is scarce and mainly found in well‐educated populations, limiting its generalizability. Furthermore, the modification effect of education levels remains understudied. We conducted a cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effects of PA intervention on cognitive function in a general older population, and whether education modifies such effects.METHODSEight villages were randomized to the intervention (four villages, n = 240) or the control (four villages, n = 271). The intervention group received an 8‐week multilevel PA intervention based on a socio‐ecological model, while the control did not. The intervention has been condensed to three levels with activities occurring at the individual (telephone counseling, printed material, and training sessions), interpersonal (peer group), and community levels (group sharing and coaching). The primary outcome was changes in global cognition (overall cognitive function) measured by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS‐10) at 12‐month follow‐up. Repeated measurements were modeled using the linear mixed model, which assumed that the missing values were missing at random.RESULTSThe mean age was 70.94 years (standard deviation 5.71) and 55.6% were women. Compared to the control, the orientation improved from baseline at 12‐month follow‐up (0.24 points [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.03 to 0.46 points; P = 0.03]). Stratified analysis showed that the global cognition and orientation improved at 12‐month follow‐up among illiterate participants in the intervention (for global cognition, mean difference, 0.57 points [95% CI, 0.03 to 1.10], P = 0.04; for orientation, mean difference, 0.31 points [95% CI, 0.04 to 0.58], P = 0.03).DISCUSSIONThese results confirm the improvements in orientation in older adults, as well as in global cognition and orientation in the illiterate at 12‐month follow‐up.

Physical Activity Intervention for Leisure-Time Activity Levels Among Older Adults

“… 19 This finding may reflect the fact that theory-based interventions were more effective. 19 Furthermore, the improvement in health outcomes, including nighttime sleep quality and self-rated health (eTable 8 in Supplement 2 ), and global cognition and orientation in individuals with illiteracy 20 indicate that the significant increase in leisure-time activity could be clinically relevant.…”

Factors impeding physical activity in older hospitalised patients: A qualitative meta‐synthesis

“…The socioecological model (McLeroy et al., 1988) can guide the study of factors influencing individual health behaviours, and is currently a more widely used theory in PA (Li, Sun, & Shao, 2023; Li, Ye, et al., 2023). The social‐ecological model emphasises that health promotion should simultaneously focus on the factors surrounding the individual (Choi et al., 2022).…”