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Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
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Public Health
Owen T Carmichael1, Angelique Litsey1, Neil Johannsen2
1Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|December 23, 2025
Summary
Higher aerobic fitness is linked to better cognitive function in older African Americans. This study highlights the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness for maintaining brain health in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Physical activity and aerobic fitness interventions improve cognitive performance in older adults.
- The role of aerobic fitness as a risk factor for cognitive decline in older African Americans is not well understood.
- Previous studies lacked sufficient sample sizes of older African Americans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline aerobic fitness and cognitive function in older African Americans.
- To examine aerobic fitness as a potential risk factor for cognitive impairment in this population.
- To address the gap in research concerning aerobic fitness and cognition in older African Americans.
Main Methods:
- The Reducing African Americans' Alzheimer's Disease Risk Through Exercise (RAATE) Study enrolled 129 sedentary, cognitively healthy older African Americans.
- Participants were randomized to one year of aerobic exercise training or successful aging education.
- Baseline aerobic fitness (peak VO2) was assessed using a graded sub-maximal treadmill test and related to cognitive scores via linear regression.
Main Results:
- Greater peak VO2 was significantly associated with higher global cognitive scores (NIH Toolbox) and dimensional change card sort scores.
- In men, greater peak VO2 was specifically linked to better pattern comparison processing.
- No significant associations were found between peak VO2 and other cognitive measures.
Conclusions:
- Increased aerobic fitness is associated with enhanced global cognitive function in healthy older African American adults.
- Sex-specific associations between aerobic fitness and cognitive domains warrant further investigation in this population.
- Aerobic fitness may play a crucial role in preserving cognitive function among older African Americans.
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