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Physical activity reduces risk for cognitive impairments
Methods. Participants were 376 community-dwelling older women aged 70-80 years at baseline from the Women's Health and Aging Study (WHAS) II. Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age, race, education, number of chronic illnesses, and number of depressive symptoms at baseline, were used to evaluate the associations between self-reported physical activity and risk of cognitive impairments in psychomotor speed, executive function, and verbal memory.
Results. Greater baseline levels of caloric expenditure were associated with up to a 2.3% reduction in risk of impairments in executive function, verbal memory, and psychomotor speed (p's<0.05).
Conclusions. These findings demonstrate that even modest increases in baseline levels of physical activity appear beneficial to the long-term maintenance of cognitive health in late life.
Key Words: physical activity, cognition, caloric expenditure, aging, older adults
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationChronic disease management and prevention
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the role that physical activity plays in late life cognition in women.
Evaluate the quantitative amount of caloric expenditure most ideal to long-term maintenance of cognitive health in late life.
Keyword(s): Physical Activity, Aging
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have completed this project in requirement of graduation for my MHS in mental health degree. I worked with advisors who regularly work with the Women's Health and Aging Study II data set used in this paper in order to ensure the quality and accuracy of the work.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.