Abstract
Objectives. We investigated the association between physical fitness and cognitive status. Further, we examined whether physical fitness mediates the association between cognitive functioning and aging. Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Urban and rural Colombian older adults. Methods. 4416 participants from the SABE study were included in the current analysis. Physical fitness was assessed with the handgrip test and the usual gait speed test. Cognitive status was evaluated through the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination. A parallel mediation path was used to test the possible mediator role of physical fitness between aging and cognitive functioning. Results. Older adults with lower handgrip strength (HGS) were more likely to have mild-cognitive status than older adults with healthy HGS (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.15; 2.02). In addition, older adults with a slower gait speed were more likely to have mild cognitive impairment (OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.54; 2.78). Age had an inverse relationship with cognitive function (β = −0.110, 95% CI = −0.130; −0.100) and it was also inversely associated with HGS (β = −0.003, 95% CI = −0.005; −0.002) and gait speed (β = −0.010, 95% CI = −0.011; −0.009). The indirect effects, which indicate that the effect of age on cognitive function is transmitted through mediators, showed that both gait speed (β = −0.028, 95% CI = −0.036; −0.020) and HGS (β = −0.014, 95% CI = −0.024; −0.005) were independent mediators of the detrimental effect of aging on cognitive function. Conclusions. Physical fitness mediates the effects of aging on cognitive functioning. Our findings suggest that physical activity can be a key factor to prevent cognitive deterioration during aging process.
Highlights
The Latin-American population is aging fast, and it has been projected that by 2050 the number of people older than 65 will double [1]
We examined the association between low handgrip strength (HGS) and low gait speed
Our findings suggest that the association between age and cognition is mediated by the level of HGS and gait speed
Summary
The Latin-American population is aging fast, and it has been projected that by 2050 the number of people older than 65 will double [1]. Aging is associated with several non-communicable diseases, including mobility disability [2] and cognitive decline [3]. In Colombia (South America), the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment is increasing and currently stands at 5.6% [4]. Mild cognitive impairment in older adults leads.
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