Association of Physical Activity With Cognitive Function Among Older Adults in Rural Sichuan, China

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Cognitive decline is a significant concern in aging populations.
• Physical activity is increasingly recognized as a modifiable factor influencing cognitive health.
• Understanding these relationships in diverse populations, like rural China, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between total physical activity (PA) and cognitive function dimensions (orientation, attention, memory) in older adults.
• To examine the specific impact of household PA on cognitive function.
• To provide evidence for PA interventions to support cognitive aging in rural settings.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 715 older adults (average age 72 years) in rural Sichuan, China.
• Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) used to measure total PA.
• Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) questionnaire administered to assess cognitive function.

Main Results:

• Total PA and household PA were significantly associated with overall TICS scores.
• Both total PA and household PA showed significant positive associations with orientation and memory dimensions of cognitive function.
• Multivariate linear regression confirmed these associations (e.g., total PA: β = 0.143, p < .001 for overall TICS).

Conclusions:

• Higher levels of total and household physical activity are positively associated with better cognitive function in older Chinese adults.
• The orientation and memory domains appear particularly responsive to physical activity.
• Findings support promoting physical activity for cognitive health maintenance in aging rural populations.