Physical activity across adulthood and subjective cognitive function in older men

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Low subjective cognitive function (SCF) is linked to the APOE4 genotype, negatively impacting quality of life and predicting dementia.
• Understanding modifiable factors associated with late-life SCF is crucial for developing preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between physical activity in early adulthood and mid-to-late life with late-life SCF.
• To determine if physical activity at different life stages independently or cumulatively impacts cognitive function.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study of 28,481 US male health professionals aged 40-75 years.
• Physical activity was reported in 1986 and biennially thereafter; SCF was assessed in 2008 and 2012.
• SCF scores were categorized as good, moderate, or poor, and analyzed using multivariable-adjusted models.

Main Results:

• Higher physical activity in mid-to-late life was associated with significantly lower odds of poor SCF (OR 0.62).
• Physical activity in early adulthood independently predicted better SCF (23% lower odds of poor SCF).
• Combined early and mid-to-late life activity showed the strongest protective effect (48% lower odds of poor SCF).

Conclusions:

• Physical activity during both early and mid-to-late life independently contributes to the prevention of poor subjective cognitive function in late life.
• Promoting lifelong physical activity may be a viable strategy to maintain cognitive health and prevent cognitive decline.