Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better verbal generativity in community-dwelling older adults

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the associations between physical activity duration and intensity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and executive function in older adults.

Methods: Data from 99 cognitively normal adults (age = 69.10 ± 5.1 years; n = 54 females) were used in the current study. Physical activity (intensity and duration) was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and fitness was measured by analysis of maximal aerobic capacity, VO2peak. Executive function was measured comprehensively, including measures of Shifting, Updating, Inhibition, Generativity, and Nonverbal Reasoning.

Results: Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with better performance on Generativity (B = .55; 95% confidence interval [.15, .97]). No significant associations were found between self-reported physical activity intensity/duration and executive functions.

Discussion: To our knowledge, this study is the first to identify an association between fitness and Generativity. Associations between physical activity duration and intensity and executive function requires further study, using objective physical activity measures and longitudinal observations.

Document Type

Journal Article

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

31366

Grant Number

NHMRC Number : GNT1097105

Grant Link

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/GNT1097105

Copyright

subscription content

Publisher

Human Kinetics

Comments

Frost, N., Weinborn, M., Gignac, G. E., Markovic, S., Rainey-Smith, S. R., Sohrabi, H. R., ... & Brown, B. M. (2019). Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better verbal generativity in community-dwelling older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 27(5), 703-710.

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1123/japa.2018-0382