Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Using a Real-Time Locating System to Measure Walking Activity Associated with Wandering Behaviors Among Institutionalized Older Adults
Published on: February 8, 2019
Objectively measured physical activity is related to cognitive function in older adults
Jacqueline Kerr1, Simon J Marshall, Ruth E Patterson
1Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California; Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California.
Objectives:
To explore the relationship between cognitive functioning and time spent at different intensities of physical activity (PA) in free-living older adults.
Design:
Cross sectional analyses.
Setting:
Continuing care retirement communities.
Participants:
Older adults residing in seven continuing care retirement communities in San Diego County with an average age of 83; 70% were female, and 35% had a graduate-level education (N = 217).
Measurements:
PA was measured objectively using hip worn accelerometers with data aggregated to the minute level. Three cut points were used to assess low light-intensity PA (LLPA), high light-intensity PA (HLPA), and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA). The Trail Making Test (TMT) Parts A and B were completed, and time for each test (seconds) and time for Part B minus time for Part A (seconds) were used as measures of cognitive function. Variables were log-transformed and entered into linear regression models adjusting for demographic factors (age, education, sex) and other PA intensity variables.
Results:
LLPA was not related to any TMT test score. HLPA was significantly related to TMT A, B, and B minus A but only in unadjusted models. MVPA was related to TMT B and B minus A after adjusting for demographic variables.
Conclusion:
There may be a dose response between PA intensity and cognitive functioning in older adults. The stronger findings supporting a relationship between MVPA and cognitive functioning are consistent with previous observational and intervention studies.
