Is there a relationship between accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior and cognitive function in US Hispanic/Latino adults? The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Abstract

Normative changes in cognitive function are expected with increasing age. Research on the relationship between normative cognitive decline and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SED) needs further investigation in Hispanic/Latinos adults. We assessed the cross-sectional association between accelerometer assessed MVPA and SED with cognitive function in 7,478 adults aged 45–74 years from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. At baseline, cognitive tests included two executive function tests (Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), a test of language (Word Fluency), and a test of memory (Spanish English Verbal Learning Test). Multiple regression models were used to examine associations of time spent in MVPA and SED with cognitive function by age groups, adjusted for age, education, sex, acculturation, and field center. Mean time spent in sedentary behaviors was 12.3 hours/day in females and 11.9 hours/day in males (75% and 77% of accelerometer wear time, respectively). Higher SED, but not MVPA, was associated with lower DSST raw scores (β −0.03 with each 10-min increment in SED; P < 0.05), indicating lower performance in executive function in all age groups. No associations were observed for MVPA and SED with tests of language or memory tests. Our findings suggest a distinct association of SED but not MVPA on executive functioning in middle-aged and older Latino adults. Longitudinal studies are needed to more conclusively determine causal links.

Accelerometer‐determined physical activity and cognitive function in middle‐aged and older adults from two generations of the Framingham Heart Study

“…In agreement with our results in the FHS cohorts (including mostly white individuals of European descent), previous studies also conducted mostly in white, non-Hispanic/Latino populations have consistently reported associations of objectively measured PA with executive function; but these results have not been consistently observed in studies conducted in black or Hispanic/Latino adults [10,11,21,22]. Possible explanations of differing results among these studies include methodological and demographic differences other than race/ethnicity, Abbreviations: MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; SED, sedentary time; SD, standard deviation; CVD, cardiovascular disease; BMI, body mass index; IQR, interquartile range.…”

“…In REGARDS, %MVPA was associated with a z‐score composite of multiple cognitive assessments in the full sample and with memory in both black and white men; whereas in the mostly white Framingham cohorts, we observed similar associations only in our middle‐aged Third Generation cohort, but not in the older Offspring cohort. Using the more traditional MVPA (min/day) definition (adjusting for wear time), no statistically significant association was observed with a global cognitive function score in the HCHS/SOL cohort [11]. REGARDS and HCHS/SOL also defined MVPA using different thresholds (≥1065 vs. ≥1535, compared with the threshold used in our study ≥1487 counts/min).…”

“…We adjusted for occupational status and occupational PA, but we only had crude occupational categorizations available, which may require follow‐up analysis. In the HCHS/SOL study, investigators also observed a trend toward a positive association of SED with global cognitive function in middle aged adults (45–54 years), although this trend was not statistically significant [11]. Occupations with high cognitive complexity have previously been associated with higher cognitive function [32] and lower risk of dementia [33]; and many of these higher occupational complexity jobs also have lower occupational PA [33].…”

“…In a subanalysis of only white participants in REGARDS, an association was observed between %MVPA (reported as % of total device wear time) and executive function, which was not observed in black participants [10]. But in the full REGARDS study sample (including both black and white adults) and HCHS/SOL, there were more inconsistent results [10,11]. In REGARDS, %MVPA was associated with a z‐score composite of multiple cognitive assessments in the full sample and with memory in both black and white men; whereas in the mostly white Framingham cohorts, we observed similar associations only in our middle‐aged Third Generation cohort, but not in the older Offspring cohort.…”

Ankle brachial index and cognitive function among Hispanics/Latinos: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

“…Additionally, Hispanics/Latinos are reportedly at higher risk for age-related cognitive problems, again with reported differences in disease prevalence and incidence between subgroups [12]. Recent studies have shown consistent links between cardiovascular disease and risk factors and lower cognitive performance among diverse Latinos evident in middle age [13–16]. However, no previous work, to our knowledge, has comprehensively examined cognitive function and ABI in middle-aged and older diverse Latinos.…”