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Longitudinal Associations of Fitness, Motor Competence, and Adiposity with Cognition
Eero A Haapala1,2, Niina Lintu2, Juuso Väistö2
1Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FINLAND.
Insights
Higher motor competence (MC) in boys is linked to better cognitive development, while cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body fat percentage (BF%) show no significant association with cognition in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Psychology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Cognitive development in children is influenced by various physical factors.
- Understanding the interplay between physical fitness, motor skills, and cognition is crucial for child development.
- Longitudinal studies are essential to establish predictive relationships between physical attributes and cognitive outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), motor competence (MC), and body fat percentage (BF%) with cognitive function in children.
- To determine if physical fitness and motor skills at baseline predict cognitive changes over a two-year period.
- To investigate potential sex differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 371 children (aged 6-9 years) was followed for two years.
- Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed via maximal cycle ergometer test.
- Motor competence (MC) was evaluated using a composite score from the 50-m shuttle run, static balance, and box and block tests.
- Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
- Cognitive function was assessed using the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score.
- Linear regression and repeated-measures ANCOVA were employed for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- In boys, higher baseline motor competence (MC) was associated with a smaller increase in cognitive scores (RCPM) over time, largely explained by baseline cognition.
- Boys with higher baseline MC demonstrated better cognitive scores throughout the follow-up period compared to those with lower MC.
- No significant associations were found between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body fat percentage (BF%), or motor competence (MC) and cognitive scores in girls.
- Changes in CRF, MC, or BF% did not correlate with changes in cognitive function in either sex.
Conclusions:
- Higher baseline motor competence (MC) predicts better cognitive function in boys over a two-year period.
- Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and adiposity were not found to be associated with cognitive outcomes in either boys or girls.
- These findings highlight the importance of motor skill development for cognitive trajectories in young boys.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), motor competence (MC), and body fat percentage (BF%) with cognition in children.
Methods:
Altogether, 371 children (188 boys and 183 girls) 6-9 yr of age at baseline participated in this 2-yr follow-up study. We assessed CRF by maximal cycle ergometer test, computed the MC score from the z-scores of the 50-m shuttle run, static balance, and box and block test results, measured BF% by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and assessed cognition using the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score. The associations were studied by linear regression analysis and repeated-measures ANCOVA.
Results:
In boys, a higher MC score (β = -0.161, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.314 to -0.009), a shorter 50-m shuttle run test duration (β = 0.152, 95% CI = 0.007-0.296), and a higher number of cubes moved in the Box and block test (β = -0.161, 95% CI = -0.309 to -0.013) at baseline were associated with a smaller increase in the RCPM score during follow-up. These associations were largely explained by the RCPM score at baseline. However, boys in the highest third (mean difference = 2.5, 95% CI for difference = 0.66-4.33) and the middle third (mean difference = 2.1, 95% CI for difference = 0.39-3.82) of the MC score at baseline had a higher RCPM score over the 2-yr follow-up than boys in the lowest third. CRF, MC, or adiposity was not associated with the RCPM score in girls. Changes in CRF, MC, or BF% were not associated with changes in cognition.
Conclusions:
Higher MC at baseline predicted better cognition during the first two school years in boys but not in girls. CRF or adiposity was not associated with cognition in boys or girls.
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