Physical activity, depression, and all-cause mortality risk in older adults: The Seniors-ENRICA cohorts

To examine the association of types and intensities of physical activity (PA) and depression with all-cause mortality in a population-based cohort of older adults, where evidence is scarce or inconsistent.

We analysed data from 2060 and 3263 older adults (70.5 ± 5.5 years; 2800 women) participating in the Seniors-ENRICA 1 and 2 cohorts, respectively. Time spent in walking, gardening, do-it-yourself (DIY) activities, housework, cycling, and sports was self-reported using the EPIC questionnaire. PA was categorized by intensity as follows: light (LPA; walking+housework), moderate (MPA; gardening+DIY), and vigorous PA (VPA; cycling+sports); in addition, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and total PA were computed. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10) score ≥ 3. All-cause mortality was ascertained up to January 31, 2024. Multivariable regression models were used to examine associations, adjusting for key confounders.

Inverse associations were observed between all types and intensities of PA and both depression at baseline, except for cycling. In participants with depression, time spent in housework, sports, LPA, VPA, and total PA was similarly associated with reduced mortality risk. Meeting MVPA recommendations was associated with a 20 % and 32 % lower mortality in individuals without and with depression, respectively. In dose-response analyses, participants with depression who engaged in the same volume of PA as those without depression experienced a greater reduction in mortality risk.

PA was associated with lower odds of prevalent depression in older adults. Notably, older adults with depression experienced greater mortality benefits from comparable levels of physical activity than those without depression.