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Updated: Dec 17, 2025
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Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
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Physical activity and cognitive function: between-person and within-person associations and moderators
Andreas Stenling1,2,3, Daniel Eriksson Sörman1,4, Magnus Lindwall5,6
1Department of Psychology, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden.
Summary
Physical activity in old age positively impacts cognitive function, especially episodic memory and verbal fluency. What you do later in life matters more for cognitive health than past activity levels.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Longitudinal studies are crucial for understanding the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function over time.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results on whether physical activity influences cognitive decline in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal association between physical activity and cognitive function in older adults.
- To examine both between-person and within-person effects of physical activity on cognition.
- To identify moderators influencing the physical activity-cognition relationship over 15 years.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 1722 participants across four waves of the Betula study over 15 years.
- Employed Bayesian multilevel modeling to analyze the complex longitudinal associations.
- Differentiated between-person (stable differences) and within-person (fluctuations) effects of physical activity.
Main Results:
- Self-reported physical activity did not predict overall changes in cognitive function across the study period.
- Physical activity positively predicted baseline cognitive performance, with stronger effects for more active older adults.
- A positive within-person effect of physical activity on cognitive function was observed, indicating immediate benefits.
Conclusions:
- Current physical activity levels, rather than past engagement, appear more critical for maintaining cognitive function in older age.
- The within-person effect on episodic memory was more pronounced in less active individuals, suggesting potential for improvement.
- Higher education moderated the within-person effect on verbal fluency, highlighting its role in cognitive reserve.
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