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The relationship between physical activity, cognitive function and health care use: A mediation analysis
Sabrina Lenzen1, Brenda Gannon2, Christiern Rose3
1Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, Sir Llew Edwards Building (Building 14), Level 5, Room 513a, The University of Queensland, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, QLD, St Lucia 4072, Australia.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|September 15, 2023
Summary
Physical activity benefits older adults by improving cognitive function, which in turn reduces healthcare use. This study quanties the cognitive pathway
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Physical activity offers significant health benefits for older adults, potentially reducing healthcare utilization.
- The specific contribution of cognitive function improvements to this effect remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct and indirect effects of physical activity on healthcare use in older adults.
- To quantify the mediating role of cognitive function in the relationship between physical activity and healthcare use.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from eight waves (2004-2018) of the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) for individuals aged 65+.
- Employed a simultaneous three-equation model with instrumental variables (IV) for cognitive function (genetic variations), healthcare use (local supply), and physical activity (neighborhood level).
- Assessed cognitive function using a word recall task.
Main Results:
- Found small, negative direct and indirect effects of physical activity on healthcare use (GP visits, hospital admissions, length of stay).
- Improved cognitive function mediated 5% to 17% of the total effect of physical activity on reduced healthcare utilization.
- Both physical activity and cognitive function independently impact healthcare use.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity reduces healthcare use in older adults, with a notable portion of this effect attributable to enhanced cognitive function.
- Cognitive improvements play a significant, though not exclusive, role in mediating the healthcare benefits of physical activity.
- Findings highlight the importance of promoting physical activity for both cognitive health and healthcare resource optimization in aging populations.
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