The correlation between physical exercise and cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairment mediated...

Cognitive impairment is currently a prominent age-related challenge among older adults. This study examined the relationships between inhibitory control, cognitive function, EEG indicators, and physical exercise in older adults with cognitive impairment, and explored the mediating roles of EEG indicators and inhibitory control in the association between physical exercise and cognitive function.

A total of 239 older adults were recruited, of whom 209 were included in the final analysis. Cognitive function and physical exercise were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), respectively. Inhibitory control was evaluated using the Stroop task and 5 min of resting-state EEG signals were recorded.

Cognitive function was significantly associated with inhibitory control in older adults with cognitive impairment. θ(FP1 + FP2) power emerged as a specific EEG indicator correlated with both cognitive function and inhibitory control. A significant negative correlation was observed between physical exercise volume and resting-state θ(FP1 + FP2) power (r = -0.288, p < 0.05). Mediation analysis revealed a significant direct association between physical exercise and cognitive function (B = 0.037, 95%CI: 0.005, 0.063, p = 0.020). Furthermore, physical exercise was indirectly associated with cognitive function through three significant pathways: the independent mediation of θ(FP1 + FP2) power (B = 0.008, p = 0.022), the independent mediation of inhibitory control (B = 0.013, p = 0.011), and a chain mediation from θ(FP1 + FP2) power to inhibitory control (B = 0.003, 95%CI: 0.001, 0.009, p = 0.028). Collectively, these indirect pathways accounted for 39.0% of the total association.

Higher volumes of physical exercise in older adults are associated with superior inhibitory control and cognitive performance, as well as lower resting-state θ(FP1 + FP2) power. θ(FP1 + FP2) serves as a shared neuroelectrophysiological marker linked to both inhibitory control and cognitive function. Furthermore, exploratory SEM suggested that this EEG-specific indicator and inhibitory control may statistically mediate the association between physical exercise and cognitive function.