Physical activity in relation to cognitive decline in elderly men: the FINE study

B.M. van Gelder, M.A.R. Tijhuis, D. Kromhout

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

272 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may be associated with better cognition. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether change in duration and intensity of physical activity is associated with 10-year cognitive decline in elderly men. METHODS: Data of 295 healthy survivors, born between 1900 and 1920, from the Finland, Italy, and the Netherlands Elderly (FINE) Study were used. From 1990 onward, physical activity was measured with a validated questionnaire for retired men and cognitive functioning with the Mini-Mental State Examination (maximum score 30 points). RESULTS: The rates of cognitive decline did not differ among men with a high or low duration of activity at baseline. However, a decrease in activity duration of >60 min/day over 10 years resulted in a decline of 1.7 points (p <0.0001). This decline was 2.6 times stronger than the decline of men who maintained their activity duration (p = 0.06). Men in the lowest intensity quartile at baseline had a 1.8 (p = 0.07) to 3.5 (p = 0.004) times stronger 10-year cognitive decline than those in the other quartiles. A decrease in intensity of physical activity of at least half a standard deviation was associated with a 3.6 times stronger decline than maintaining the level of intensity (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Even in old age, participation in activities with at least a medium-low intensity may postpone cognitive decline. Moreover, a decrease in duration or intensity of physical activity results in a stronger cognitive decline than maintaining duration or intensity
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2316-2321
JournalNeurology
Volume63
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Keywords

  • state-examination
  • older-adults
  • risk-factors
  • dementia
  • exercise
  • fitness
  • zutphen
  • disease
  • women

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