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Physical activity pre- and post-dementia: English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Mira Soni1, Martin Orrell2, Stephan Bandelow1
1a School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences , Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
Background:
To inform public health interventions, further investigation is needed to identify: (1) frequency/intensity of everyday physical activity (PA) needed to reduce dementia risk; (2) whether post-diagnosis reduction in PA is associated with cognitive outcomes in people with dementia.
Methods:
Data from 11,391 men and women (aged ≥50) were obtained from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing cohort. Assessments were carried out at baseline (2002-2003) and at biannual follow-ups (2004-2013).
Results:
Older adults who carried out moderate to vigorous activity at least once per week had a 34%-50% lower risk for cognitive decline and dementia over an 8-10 year follow-up period. From pre- to post-dementia diagnosis, those who decreased PA levels had a larger decrease in immediate recall scores, compared to those who maintained or increased PA levels (analyses were adjusted for changes in physical function).
Conclusion:
PA was associated with cognitive outcomes in a dose-dependent manner. Reduction in PA after diagnosis was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and maintaining PA may reduce symptom progression in dementia.