Relationships of accelerometer-based measured objective physical activity and sedentary behaviour with cognitive function: a comparative cross-sectional study of China’s elderly population

Abstract

Background: This study explored the effects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the decline of cognitive ability among the elderly. To compensate for the limitations of self-reported physical activity, objective measures were used. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 308 aged people mean 68.66 ± 5.377 years, in Nanjing, China, was conducted. Physical activity was measured using the ActiGraph GT3X+, and cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Results: The overall participant model, adjusted for age, BMI, education, and monthly average income, found that light physical activity (β = 0.006, p < 0.01), moderate-vigorous physical activity (β = 0.068, p < 0.001), and total physical activity (β = 0.006, p < 0.01) had a significant linear relationship with cognitive ability, while sedentary time did not (β = − 0.020, p>0.05). Further, light physical activity only affects the cognitive ability of elderly females (β = 0.006, p < 0.05). There was an inverted 'U' association between moderate-vigorous physical activity and cognitive ability. The association models found that moderate-vigorous physical activity in the 22.13 min·day − 1~3 8.79 min·day − 1 range affected cognitive ability most beneficially, with the highest beta coefficient among all groups (β = 0.091, p < 0.05). Conclusions: While physical activity can significantly improve cognitive ability among the elderly, sedentary behaviour is associated with decreased cognitive function across genders.

Child-rearing Assistance Enhances Physical Activity and Health-related Quality of Life among Japanese Grandmothers

“…In the Health Measures Survey in Canada, males aged 60-79 years spend an average of 9.9 hours per day in a sedentary state while females spend 10.3 hours (Colley et al, 2011). In addition, males and females aged 60 years and over living in central China showed results (male 9.8 hours and female 9.9 hours) similar to those of the Canadian survey (Wu et al, 2020). On the other hand, a recent report of the sedentary time in a Japanese aging population of 65 years and over found 7.6 (Chen et al, 2020) and 8.1 hours per day (Honda et al, 2014), which was shorter than the findings of Colley et al (2011), Harvey et al (2013), and Wu et al (2020.…”

“…In addition, males and females aged 60 years and over living in central China showed results (male 9.8 hours and female 9.9 hours) similar to those of the Canadian survey (Wu et al, 2020). On the other hand, a recent report of the sedentary time in a Japanese aging population of 65 years and over found 7.6 (Chen et al, 2020) and 8.1 hours per day (Honda et al, 2014), which was shorter than the findings of Colley et al (2011), Harvey et al (2013), and Wu et al (2020. Taken together, the review of literature on PA suggests that moderate-to-vigorous PA data in Japanese older adults meets the MHW criteria and the ACSM recommendations for those aged 65 years and older.…”

“…Reports of PA, including sedentary behavior in older adults has mainly been studied as a function of age (Colley et al, 2011;Jefferis et al, 2016;Troiano et al, 2008), gender (Colley et al, 2011;Honda et al, 2014;Luzak et al, 2017;Troiano et al, 2008;Wu et al, 2020), in relation to health conditions such as metabolic syndrome (Honda et al, 2014;Jefferis et al, 2016;Luzak et al, 2017) or frailty (Chen et al, 2020). Vermote et al (2021) noted that the role of PA in providing care for grandchildren and in the sedentary behavior of grandparents and HRQOL is yet to be investigated.…”

Is there a bidirectional association between sedentary behaviour and cognitive decline in older adults? Findings from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing

“…Additionally, using subjective sedentary measures modest associations between SB and cognitive decline were identified in TILDA ( Olanrewaju et al, 2020 ). In contrast, no cross-sectional associations with objectively measured SB ( Wu et al, 2020 ), nor prospective associations with global cognitive decline ( Maasakkers et al, 2020 ), were found in two other studies. Therefore, a recent systematic review examining the association between SB and cognition stated that evidence remains inconclusive ( Olanrewaju et al, 2020 ).…”

Long-term Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cognitive Function in Seniors: A Cohort Study in China

“…In addition to the more general demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and education, factors such as diet, exercise, disease, and genetics are also covered. [9][10][11] The effect of alcohol on cognition has been controversial. Some studies have suggested a potential bene cial effect of low or moderate alcohol intake on cognitive function, [12][13][14] while others have shown no or opposite effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cognitive status.…”