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Lifetime physical activity and late-life cognitive function: the Rancho Bernardo study.
Emilie T Reas1, Gail A Laughlin2, Jaclyn Bergstrom2
1Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, USA.
Age and Ageing
|January 8, 2019
Summary
Regular physical activity in older age is linked to better cognitive function. Early life physical activity, particularly in teenage years, may build cognitive reserve, protecting against age-related decline.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Physical activity in older age correlates with improved cognitive function.
- The impact of physical activity earlier in life on cognitive function remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between physical activity across the lifespan and cognitive function in older adults.
- To determine if early life physical activity influences cognitive reserve and late-life cognition.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1,826 adults (aged 60-99) from the Rancho Bernardo Study of Healthy Aging.
- Participants reported physical activity levels as teenagers, at ages 30, 50, and currently.
- Cognitive function was assessed in older age, with physical activity categorized as regular (3+ times/week) or inactive at each time point.
Main Results:
- Regular physical activity in older age showed the strongest association with better global cognitive function, executive function, and episodic memory.
- Intense physical activity during teenage years was linked to better late-life global cognitive function in women.
- Physical activity in both teenage years and older age demonstrated a synergistic effect on executive function.
Conclusions:
- Consistent physical activity in older age, irrespective of intensity, supports better cognitive function.
- Physical activity in adolescence may bolster cognitive reserve, offering protection against age-related executive function decline.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the long-term effects of physical activity across the lifespan on brain health.
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