Mediating Factors Associated With Physical Activity in Older Adults at Increased Dementia Risk

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Multimorbidity and increased dementia risk are associated with reduced physical activity (PA).
• Understanding factors mediating inactivity in at-risk older adults is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a multimodal intervention on PA changes over 24 months.
• To identify mediating factors influencing PA in community-dwelling older adults with increased dementia risk.

Main Methods:

• A generalized estimating equations model analyzed PA changes over 24 months.
• Tree analysis identified mediating factors affecting PA post-intervention.
• Participants were community-dwelling individuals aged 60-77 with elevated dementia risk (CAIDE Dementia Risk Score).

Main Results:

• The multimodal intervention did not yield significant changes in regular PA at 24-month follow-up (P = .674).
• Subgroup analysis indicated a significant improvement in self-efficacy (P = .000).
• Enhanced self-efficacy was associated with increased engagement in physical activity.

Conclusions:

• Direct intervention effects on overall PA were not significant in this cohort.
• Self-efficacy emerged as a key mediating factor for promoting PA in older adults with multimorbidity and dementia risk.
• Future strategies should integrate self-efficacy-building components to enhance PA promotion.