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Updated: Jul 17, 2025
A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers
Published on: April 21, 2017
Association between physical activity measured by accelerometry and cognitive function in older adults: a systematic
José Jonas de Oliveira1,2, Anna Gabriela Silva Vilela Ribeiro1,2, Jasiele Aparecida de Oliveira Silva1
1Physical Education Department, Centro Universitário de Itajubá - FEPI, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Objective:
To analyze studies that investigated the association between physical activity assessed by accelerometry and cognitive function in older people.
Methods:
A systematic review was carried out in four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SportsDiscus).
Results:
In total, 195 records were identified. Fifty-two studies were selected for a full evaluation; 23 were selected according to the inclusion criteria adopted and divided into four chapters (characteristics of the studies, the association between physical activity level and cognitive function decline, effects of physical activity in reducing the chances of cognitive function decline and effects of physical activity on brain plasticity. The cross-sectional studies had an average score of 7 points, and the cohort studies obtained 10 points, indicating the high quality of the selected studies. Seven studies indicated an association between Moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA) and cognitive function, two specifically indicated a reduction in the chances of cognitive function decline according to the interquartile of MVPA, and three studies indicated improvements in MVPA in brain plasticity.
Conclusion:
Measured by accelerometry, seems to be favorably associated with important outcomes in cognitive function assessed through questionnaires, imaging analyses, and biochemical markers with older adults.
