Association between physical activity and cognition in Mexican and Korean older adults

The mediating role of loneliness in the effect of physical activity barriers on quality of life

BACKGROUND

This study aims to examine the mediating role of loneliness in the effect of physical activity barriers on quality of life.

METHODS

The sample of the study consisted of 374 people over the age of 65 who applied to a hospital. The data collection tools used in the study are 'Personal Information Form', 'Physical Activity Barriers Questionnaire' 'World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module' and 'Loneliness Scale for the Elderly'. The mediating effect analysis was conducted through the 'Process Macro' developed by Hayes.

RESULTS

According to the obtained results, loneliness mediates the relationship between physical activity barriers and quality of life. Individuals with high levels of loneliness and physical activity barriers have lower levels of quality of life. When the results of the regression analysis indicating the mediating effect were analyzed, it was determined that the effect of physical activity barriers on quality of life were negative and significant. As the level of physical activity barriers increases, the level of quality of life decreases.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it was determined that loneliness plays a mediating role in the relationship between physical activity barriers and the level of quality of life. The study results suggest that adopting a physically active lifestyle is important to reduce adverse health outcomes in the elderly.

Impact of type, intensity, frequency, duration and volume of physical activity on dementia and mild cognitive impairment in older adults: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Worldwide, the prevalence of degenerative diseases such as dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is increasing with population ageing and increasing life expectancy. Both conditions share modifiable risk factors. Physical inactivity is one of these modifiable risk factors, and research points to the protective effect of physical activity on the incidence of dementia and MCI. However, this association tends to change according to type, intensity, frequency, duration and volume of physical activity. Furthermore, it remains unclear which of these characteristics offers the greatest protective effect. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impacts of different types, intensities, frequencies, duration and volume of physical activity on dementia and cognitive decline in older adults.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The search will be carried out from October 2023, using the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science. Cohort studies with a follow-up time of 1 year or longer that have investigated the incidence of dementia and/or MCI in older adults exposed to physical activity will be included. There will be no limitations on the date of publication of the studies. Studies published in English, Spanish or Portuguese will be analysed. Two researchers will independently screen the articles and extract the data. Any discrepancies will be resolved by a third reviewer. Association measures will be quantified, including OR, HR, relative risk and incidence ratio, with a 95% CI. If the data allow, a meta-analysis will be performed. To assess the methodological quality of the selected studies, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations instrument, and the Downs and Black instrument to assess the risk of bias, will be used.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023400411.

Association of physical activity with dementia and cognitive decline in UK Biobank

INTRODUCTION

There is a lack of studies on the association between specific physical activity (PA) types and dementia. We examined the association of leisure time physical activity (LTPA), occupational physical activity (OPA), and sedentary lifestyle with dementia risk and cognitive decline using the UK-Biobank study.

METHODS

Baseline PA was collected using questionnaires. A total of 502,481 dementia-free participants were recruited in 2006-2010 and followed for 10 years until the end of 2020 for the ascertainment of dementia. Associations of PA with incident dementia and cognitive decline were examined.

RESULTS

Higher levels of LTPA and OPA and lower levels of sedentary hours were associated with lower dementia risk. The fifth quintiles of LTPA (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43-0.67) and OPA (HR = 0.68, 95% CI:0.51-0.90) had lower dementia risk, whereas the fifth quintile of sedentary lifestyle had higher dementia risk (HR = 1.23, 95% CI:1.08-1.41).

DISCUSSION

Our findings suggest the promotion of an active lifestyle suggested to be preventive of dementia risk. This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number 71022.

Endurance training changes the expression of miR-1 and miR-133 and predicted genes in slow and fast twitch muscles

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH

Endurance training can modify signaling and gene expression pathways that play a pivotal role in determining the phenotype of the fibers. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of endurance training on the expression of some myomiRs and related genes in slow and fast twitch muscles.

METHODS

Twenty healthy male adult Wistar rats (281 ± 14 g) were randomized to either control (n = 10) or treated (n = 10). The treated group performed an endurance program for eight weeks (running on a treadmill for eight weeks, 50 min, 23 m/min). After the end of the training protocol, the slow (soleus) and fast (EDL) twitch muscles were removed to assess the miR-1, miR-133 expression, and hdac4, mef2c genes, and protein by real-time PCR and western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

The soleus muscle miR-1 expression and mef2c gene in the treated group were significantly lower compared control (p = 0.0001). In contrast, miR-133 and hdac4 gene expression of the soleus muscle of the treated group increased significantly (p = 0001), and the EDL miR-133 and mef2c expression of the treated group increased in the compared control group (p = 0.0001). The EDL MEF2c protein expression in the treated group significantly decreased compared to the control group, although the expression of EDL HDAC4 protein significantly increased (p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Endurance training changes the expression of the miR-1, miR-133, and their predicted genes in slow and fast twitch muscles. Also, the rate of HDAC4 and MEF2c protein synthesis, which are upstream and downstream of these myomiRs, was affected by endurance training.

Relationship between physiological tremor and cognitive function in physically active older women

[Purpose]

This study aimed to compare the physiological tremor, grip strength, and cognitive function of sedentary and physically active older adults.

[Methods]

Twenty-four older adults aged ≥65 years participated in this study and were divided into the sedentary (76.5±4.4 years, n=12) and physically active (73.5±3.3 years, n=12) groups. Each group completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive function assessment. Physiological tremor was measured using an accelerometer for both hands at rest and the left/right hand with a 1,000 g dumbbell on the palm in neutral positions and the elbow flexed at 90°. Physical fitness was measured by grip strength and completion of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the 6-min walk test.

[Results]

The physically active group showed a significantly lower level of physiological tremor in both hands at rest and the left/right hand with a 1,000 g dumbbell on the palm (P<0.05) than that in the sedentary group. For cognitive function, the physically active group showed significantly higher scores than those in the sedentary group (P<0.001). No significant correlation was found between cognitive function and left/right grip strength (left: r = 0.117, P = 0.585; right: r = 0.230, P = 0.279), physiological tremor in both hands at rest (left: r = -0.524, P < 0.001; right: r = -0.508, P < 0.05), and the left/right hand with a 1,000 g dumbbell on the palm (left: r = -0.505, P < 0.05; right: r = -0.458, P < 0.05).

[Conclusion]

Physiological tremor of the hands has the potential to be a useful predictor of cognitive function in older adults.

Frailty and Its Correlates in Cognitively Intact Community-Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Frailty syndrome is characterized by a decline in physiological and psychological reserve and may be associated with poor health outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

The current study explored frailty and its correlates among cognitively intact community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of data collected from 109 community-dwelling older adults who are cognitively intact was conducted for the purpose of this study. The Arabic versions of the culturally adapted Tilburg Frailty Indicator, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Short Form-36 Quality of Life (QOL) survey. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the relationships between frailty and depression.

RESULTS

The results indicated a high prevalence of frailty (78%) and depression (38%) among cognitively intact community-dwelling older adults. Frailty was found to be associated with increased age, being single or illiterate, living alone, having a high number of comorbid conditions, having high rate of depression, and having poor QOL.

CONCLUSION

High prevalence of frailty is associated with high depression scores, a high number of comorbid conditions, and poor QOL among cognitively intact community-dwelling older adults.

Accelerometry assessed physical activity of older adults hospitalized with acute medical illness - an observational study

Background

In a hospital setting and among older patients, inactivity and bedrest are associated with a wide range of negative outcomes such as functional decline, increased risk of falls, longer hospitalization and institutionalization. Our aim was to assess the distribution, determinants and predictors of physical activity (PA) levels using wrist-worn accelerometers in older patients hospitalized with acute medical illness.

Methods

Observational study conducted from February to November 2018 at an acute internal medicine unit in the University hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland. We enrolled 177 patients aged ≥65 years, able to walk prior to admission. PA during acute hospital stay was continuously recorded via a 3D wrist accelerometer. Clinical data was collected from medical records or by interview. Autonomy level prior to inclusion was assessed using Barthel Index score. PA levels were defined as < 30 mg for inactivity, 30–99 mg for light and ≥ 100 for moderate PA. Physically active patients were defined as 1) being in the highest quartile of time spent in light and moderate PA or 2) spending ≥20 min/day in moderate PA.

Results

Median [interquartile range - IQR] age was 83 [74–87] years and 60% of participants were male. The median [IQR] time spent inactive and in light PA was 613 [518–663] and 63 [30–97] minutes/day, respectively. PA peaked between 8 and 10 am, at 12 am and at 6 pm. Less than 10% of patients were considered physically active according to definition 2. For both definitions, active patients had a lower prevalence of walking aids and a lower dependency level according to Barthel Index score. For definition 1, use of medical equipment was associated with a 70% reduction in the likelihood of being active: odds ratio (OR) 0.30 [0.10–0.92] p = 0.034; for definition 2, use of walking aids was associated with a 75% reduction in the likelihood of being active: OR = 0.24 [0.06–0.89], p = 0.032.

Conclusion

Older hospitalized patients are physically active only 10% of daily time and concentrate their PA around eating periods. Whether a Barthel Index below 95 prior to admission may be used to identify patients at risk of inactivity during hospital stay remains to be proven.