Standing activity as assessed by seismic accelerometers and cognitive function in community‐dwelling older adults: The MIND trial

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundFew older adults are able to achieve recommended levels of moderate‐vigorous physical activity despite known cognitive benefits. Alternatively, small movements, such as increasing movement while standing during usual tasks, can easily be integrated into daily routines by older adults. However, standing activity is best assessed with specific devices (i.e., seismic accelerometers). No existing study of older adults has examined the impact of device‐measured standing activity on cognition. Therefore, the purpose of this secondary analysis is to examine the association between standing activity (as measured by a seismic accelerometer) and cognition in cognitively healthy older adults.MethodParticipants were 98 cognitively healthy adult participants aged 65 years or older with family history of dementia from the ongoing MIND trial (NCT02817074), which tests the effects of a 3‐year diet intervention on cognitive decline. Exclusion criteria included diagnosis or symptoms of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Linear regression analyses tested cross‐sectional associations between standing intensity and cognition. Standing activities were mean intensity of standing and static activities (sum of standing and shuffling) assessed by the MoveMonitor+ accelerometer/gyroscope. Cognition was composed of 4 cognitive domains constructed from 12 cognitive performance tests.ResultParticipants were on average 69.7 years old (SD=3.7), 69.4% women, and 73.5% had a college degree or higher. Both higher mean intensity of standing activity and static activity were significantly associated with higher levels of executive functioning and perceptual speed in models adjusted for age, gender, and education. Each log unit increase in standing activity intensity was associated with 0.77 units higher of executive function (p=.041), and 0.85 units higher of perceptual speed (p=.032). For static activities, significant log unit increases were 0.86 (p=.009) for executive function and 0.96 (p=.006) for perceptual speed. When we additionally adjusted for time spent in moderate‐vigorous physical activity and cognitive activity, the positive associations between higher intensity of standing and static activity and perceptual speed remained.ConclusionThese findings suggest the importance of considering intensity of standing activity in cognition. The relationships should be further explored in longitudinal analyses and interventions that incorporate small changes to daily routines in addition to promoting moderate‐vigorous physical activity.