Positive Impact Of Physical Activity Research Articles

An emulated target trial assessing the impact of physical activity on 14-year cancer risk: Insights from the Cancer Prevention Study-II.

10541 Background: The American Cancer Society, along with the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research, recommends a weekly regimen of physical activity (at least 75 minutes of vigorous or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity) for cancer prevention. The positive impact of physical activity on reducing cancer risk is well-known; however, the causal link between physical activity and cancer risk reduction is not established, primarily due to the observational nature of the current evidence. Given the ethical considerations involved in assigning physical activity levels below the recommended minimum, coupled with the impracticality of conducting decades-long trials due to the latency period of cancer development, there is a need for an innovative approach beyond traditional observational and randomized trial methodologies. This highlights the importance of applying alternative strategies like emulated target trials to produce evidence of the causal effect of physical activity on cancer risk that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. This study aims to estimate the causal effect of adherence to recommended physical activity levels on the 14-year total cancer and obesity-related cancer risk using an emulated target trial framework. Methods: Data from 79,668 participants who were non-current smokers and without prevalent cancer diagnosis at pre-baseline in the Cancer Prevention Study-II were analyzed. This study estimated the effect of different physical activity levels (<7.5, 7.5-<15, and ≥15 MET-hrs/wk) on 14-year cancer risks using a parametric g-formula. Models adjusted for confounders include age, sex, education, years since quitting smoking, family history of cancer, physical activity, body mass index, alcohol consumption, diet quality (measured by the ACS diet score), history of cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Results: Under no intervention, the estimated 14-year risk for any cancer was 27.9% (95% CI: 27.6%, 28.4%), and for obesity-related cancers, it was 11.2% (95% CI: 11.0%, 11.5%). Compared with no intervention, engaging in 7.5-<15 MET-hrs/wk of physical activity (minimum recommended) was linked with a 0.31% reduction in the risk of any cancer (95% CI: -0.41%, -0.06%) and a 0.19% reduction in the risk of obesity-related cancers (95% CI: -0.37%, -0.04%). Engaging in ≥15 MET-hrs/wk of physical activity (twice the minimum recommended level) was linked with a 1.31% risk reduction for any cancer (95% CI: -1.67%, -1.20%) and a 0.91% risk reduction for obesity-related cancers (95% CI: -1.09%, -0.80%), compared with no intervention. Conclusions: Incremental adherence to physical activity recommendations for cancer prevention could significantly lower the risk of developing cancers, including those related to obesity.

Effect of aerobic exercise on anthropometric parameters among Indian primary school children.

Childhood obesity is a global public health concern with significant implications for long-term health. This study addresses the rising rates of obesity among school-age children (10-12 years) and investigates the effectiveness of aerobic exercise interventions in improving anthropometric parameters, specifically focusing on BMI and mid-arm circumference (MAC). The study emphasizes the role of schools in shaping children's behaviors and aims to contribute empirical evidence to inform health promotion strategies for this demographic. The research employs a quasi-experimental design, involving 60 school-age children in Visnagar, Gujarat, India. The 12-week aerobic exercise intervention, conducted three times a week, comprises activities like running, jumping jacks, and dance routines. Data collection includes sociodemographic information, BMI, and MAC measurements. The study design, participant criteria, and intervention details are carefully outlined. Socio-demographic variables such as age and monthly family income significantly influence BMI, highlighting the importance of considering these factors in interventions. Pretest results show 80% of children classified as overweight, reducing to 58.3% post-intervention. The mean BMI significantly decreases from 24.41 to 22.84 (p < 0.05), indicating the positive impact of aerobic exercise. The study also explores the association between BMI, MAC, and socio-demographic variables through chi-square tests. Data shows the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-age children and demonstrates the effectiveness of a 12-week aerobic exercise program in improving BMI. Findings align with existing literature on the positive impact of physical activity on weight management in children.

‘You can change your life through sports’—physical activity interventions to improve the health and well-being of adults experiencing homelessness: a mixed-methods systematic review

ObjectivesSystematically synthesise evidence of physical activity interventions for people experiencing homelessness (PEH).DesignMixed-methods systematic review.Data sourcesEMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Cochrane Library, searched from inception to...

EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL DISORDERS

The research addresses a topic of great relevance to the area of ​​public health by problematizing the relationship between physical activity and the incidence of mental disorders. Its general objective is to systematize the effects recorded in scientific literature on the incidence of physical activity in prevention and as a therapeutic resource for cases of mental disorders. This is a bibliographic research, of an integrative review type, carried out in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), in which the expressions physical activity and mental disorders were used, in isolation and in combination, in the search for all indexes. The results indicate a positive impact of physical activity on the mental health of the samples studied. Regarding the parameters for administering this practice, studies, in general, converge on the assumption that any amount of physical activity is better than none, but in some studies the specification of moderate to vigorous physical activities prevails to obtain effective benefits. It concludes on the pressing importance of combating a sedentary lifestyle to gradually promote progress towards reliable parameters of physical activity that result in undeniable gains for mental health.

Sports and Physical Exercise Therapy in the Treatment of Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents

Sports and Physical Exercise Therapy in the Treatment of Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents Abstract: Mental disorders are among the most common chronic diseases in childhood and adolescence in Germany and worldwide. The health benefits of a physically active lifestyle during adolescence are well documented. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests a positive impact of physical activity on mental health and emotional well-being. Longitudinal studies also show an association between physical activity and reduced risk of developing a mental disorder. Therefore, therapeutic exercise plays an important role in child and adolescent psychiatry. High-quality randomized-controlled trials are needed to substantiate the described effects.

Physical activity interventions to increase children's social and emotional learning: A systematic review and meta‐analysis based on the comprehensive school physical activity programme framework

AbstractMounting evidence from intervention research suggests that physical activity (PA) may contribute to children's social and emotional learning (SEL), which is an essential factor in healthy development and well‐being. However, there have been no systematic reviews or meta‐analyses of PA interventions and their effects on children's SEL. Such research is necessary to assess the growing knowledge base in this area and recommend future directions for research and practice. Based on the comprehensive school physical activity programme (CSPAP) framework, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of PA interventions to increase elementary school children's (5–12 years) SEL. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines we searched six electronic databases for articles during 12–30 April 2021. A total of 32 studies were included in the review and 26 studies were included in the meta‐analysis. The meta‐analysis revealed a small to moderate effect of CSPAP‐aligned PA interventions on SEL (Hedges' g = 0.44). However, there was considerable heterogeneity across studies. PA interventions to increase children's SEL show promise but continued investigation is needed with large sample sizes and rigorous randomised designs. Using the CSPAP framework to guide interventions may facilitate an understanding of how to maximise PA opportunities to enhance children's SEL.Context and implicationsRationale for this studyNumerous intervention studies consistently underscore the positive impact of physical activity (PA) on children's social and emotional learning (SEL). However, a notable gap exists: there are no systematic reviews or meta‐analyses that directly examine the effects of PA interventions on children's SEL within the context of the comprehensive school physical activity programme (CSPAP) framework, which offers a methodology for classifying different PA intervention approaches.Why the new findings matterThe findings of this study further enrich the growing body of knowledge, showing that PA interventions have potential to enhance children's SEL. Such research is crucial to evaluate the expanding knowledge in this domain and to propose future directions for both research and practice.Implications for policy makers, university management, funders and studentsThis study suggests the adoption of larger sample sizes and stringent randomised designs in future studies. This will allow researchers to more conclusively address questions related to generalisability and causality. Furthermore, a purposeful incorporation of the CSPAP framework when crafting interventions will offer researchers and practitioners clearer insights into how best to deploy specific PA promotion strategies and understand the synergies between different intervention facets to elevate children's SEL.

Double-edged effect of physical activity on non-suicidal self-injury among depressed adolescents: An analysis of underlying mechanisms

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging health concern is adolescents. The current research investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and NSSI frequency in depressed adolescents and analyzed the mediating role of perceived stress (PS), as well as the moderating role of perceived social support (PSS). 1675 depressed adolescents aged 12 to 18 years across 9 provinces in mainland China were recruited from December 2020 to December 2021. We employed the SPSS PROESS models to test the mediating effects and moderating effects. The age, gender, depression, peer bullying and rumination factors were controlled in the analysis. PA was negatively associated with PS, and PS was positively associated with NSSI frequency. However, PA exerted positive direct impacts on NSSI frequency. The total effect of PA on NSSI was positive and significant. PA exhibits a double-edged effect on NSSI frequency. Notably, for different physical activity levels, the positive impact of PA on NSSI only existed in high PA group. PSS effectively moderated and attenuated the effect of PS on NSSI. An appropriate level of PA should be maintained and the disadvantages of excessive activity should be avoided.

REMOTE CONTROL THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS HUMAN HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONAL AGING

Abstract The level of physical activity is modified by the functional age of a person in accordance with his chronological age. Most of the evidence comes from the positive impact of physical activity on the musculoskeletal system and cognitive functions, microcirculation and cardiovascular system in the working population and retirees. In the current study, an online method the investigation of physical activity was tested. Functional age was calculated using appropriate indicators according to age standards: systolic and diastolic pressure, standing on the left leg with closed eyes, maximum breath holding time after a deep inhalation, maximum breath holding time after a deep exhalation. The state of health is extrapolated to the need for specialist supervision in 58.96% of older workers. Thus, the study showed the need to determine the functional age of respondents 50 years and older. Thus, a slowed rate of aging observed in 23.5% of cases, physiological - in 18% of cases, accelerated rate of aging - in 58.5% of cases. In the exams 441 persons, age 50-90 years, reliable associative links were observed rate of functional aging with a decrease in physical activity according to the indicators of individual daily mileage (r=-0.273, p&amp;lt; 0.001) and the variability of physical exercises (r=-0.161, p&amp;lt; 0.001). The pace of functional aging and state of health were reliably correlated (r=-0.364, p&amp;lt; 0.001) in individuals, respectively, with the preservation of individual daily mileage and the performance of daily physical exercises. Thus, aerobic activity is an important in maintaining health in terms of functional indicators.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Psychosocial Well-Being during and after COVID-19 Lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic was an extremely critical event that had a major impact on the physical and mental health of the world's population. The aim of the present work is to investigate whether physical activity plays a protective role in well-being both during the lockdown and afterwards, also assessing the role played by self-efficacy and perception of the risk of contracting COVID-19, as well as past behavior. To this end, two studies were conducted, the first close to lockdown (N = 1061; 76.3% females; mean age = 37.3-range: 18-80) and the second 2 years later (N = 562; 71.0% females; mean age = 33.2-range: 18-76). Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed, along with structural equation modelling. The results confirm the hypothesis of a positive impact of physical activity on emotional well-being alone during lockdown and on more general psychosocial well-being 2 years later. This result showed that physical activity during the pandemic represented an avoidance strategy from the psychological distress that COVID-19 was generating, whereas 2 years later, it represents a proactive strategy aimed at generating a positive mental health condition. These results provide a better understanding of the role physical activity plays in well-being by representing a resource for protecting as well as promoting the mental health of individuals.

The Influence of Elementary School Students' Art Courses on Academic Achievement

Although all sectors of society in China have paid attention to the positive impact of physical activity on academic performance, students are often accused of loving art sports because of the influence of intellectual education rather than art. In schools, the phenomenon that art class are occupied by other main teachers also occurs from time to time. Even with the continuous emphasis on quality education, there are many areas that teachers, parents and students need to improve in their ideas and actions. Therefore, if students can prove a positive relationship between art and academic performance in the way of scientific research, it is of great significance for students to form sports awareness, correct sports attitude and develop sports habits. This study explores the relationship between art literacy and academic performance through a combination of qualitative and quantitative surveys. The hypothesis of this study is that students 'art participation, art movement attitude and art sports skills are positively associated with students' academic performance. The research methods include literature and data method, questionnaire survey method, mathematical statistics method and interview method. The eighth-grade students from two middle schools in Shanghai were questionnaires. In this study, the questionnaire data and academic performance were mainly analyzed by SPSS26.0 and AMOS24.0, and the data were analyzed by frequency analysis, reliability and validity test, paired sample T-test, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis respectively. The results of the analysis are that the participation degree of art movement, learning attitude, art skills and art accomplishment of junior high school students are significantly related to students' academic performance. Based on the questionnaire survey, on the basis of 216 students, art class experiment, and at the beginning of this semester for academic test and questionnaire survey, the front test, after classroom experiment, near the final students’ academic test and questionnaire survey, namely the back test, after two tests, analysis of the relationship between the students 'art course and academic performance, through the art course experiment, whether can improve students' academic performance, and analyze the influencing factors of academic course performance, provide reasonable Suggestions for teaching. In view of these reasons, the following suggestions are put forward: appropriately increase students 'art teaching time to cultivate students' art values, improve the learning evaluation method and pay attention to the cultivation of students' thinking.

Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults.

The closure of sports centres was implemented as a preventive measure to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Given the observed global decline in physical activity and concurrent rise in sedentary behaviour, even among younger age groups, a retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of this measure on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1,717 non-professional athletes (age range: 6-25; 53.9% males, 44.6% females) completed an online questionnaire including widely used and validated measures for mental health assessment (SDQ and PGWB-S) and questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics (such as gender), physical activity, and screen time. The association between mental health and sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, and screen time was evaluated by using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. In children and adolescents, the incidence of psychological difficulties was associated with not being physically active (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.07; p = 0.015). Engaging in physical activity during the period of closures, particularly if more than twice a week, was significantly associated with less psychological difficulties for children/adolescents (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.82; p = 0.004) and psychological symptoms (i.e., psychological well-being lower than the median) for youth/young adults (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.45; p < 0.001). More psychological difficulties were also found in males for children and adolescents (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.79; p = 0.018). However, young adult males showed less psychological symptoms than females (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.55; p = 0.001). Additionally, a greater amount of screen time was associated with a higher incidence of psychological symptoms in the whole sample. Our results confirm the positive impact of physical activity on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic among younger age groups. They also provide valuable insights into the risk-benefit relationship of interrupting sports activities as a preventive measure for infectious diseases.

Move Your Body, Boost Your Brain: The Positive Impact of Physical Activity on Cognition across All Age Groups.

While the physical improvements from exercise have been well documented over the years, the impact of physical activity on mental health has recently become an object of interest. Physical exercise improves cognition, particularly attention, memory, and executive functions. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be fully understood. Consequently, we conducted a narrative literature review concerning the association between acute and chronic physical activity and cognition to provide an overview of exercise-induced benefits during the lifetime of a person. Most previous papers mainly reported exercise-related greater expression of neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factors. Recently, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques allowed for the detection of increased grey matter volumes for specific brain regions and substantial modifications in the default mode, frontoparietal, and dorsal attention networks following exercise. Here, we highlighted that physical activity induced significant changes in functional brain activation and cognitive performance in every age group and could counteract psychological disorders and neural decline. No particular age group gained better benefits from exercise, and a specific exercise type could generate better cognitive improvements for a selected target subject. Further research should develop appropriate intervention programs concerning age and comorbidity to achieve the most significant cognitive outcomes.

SHORT-TERM AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURE AND MEASURES OF ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND CENTRAL HAEMODYNAMICS IN HEALTH YOUNG ADULTS

Objective: The practice of outdoor physical exercise is increasingly present in modern societies, as the increasing levels of health literacy corresponds to greater awareness about the positive impact of physical activity. Notwithstanding, the exposure to polluted urban environments during outdoor activities may have deleterious biological effects that should not be overlooked. In particular, the effects of exposure to air pollution in vascular function has been reported in several studies, even though the current evidence is still inconsistent. Objective: To study the effect of outdoor short-term exposure to air pollution in arterial stiffness and central haemodynamics in healthy young adults. Design and method: Twenty young and healthy participants (20 and 25 years) were enrolled in an observational study. Participants performed a mild outdoor walk (1 hour duration) in two ecological settings: green environment (control) and urban environment (experimental). The activities were performed in random order and with at least two weeks interval. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was measured with the Complior device at baseline and at the end of the outdoor walk. Pulse wave analysis (PWA) was performed at baseline and with 15 minute intervals during the outdoor walk with the Mobil-o-Graph device. Air pollution was measured with appropriate devices, including ambulatory measurements of particulate matter (PM). Results: As expected, significant differences were observed in the measures of air pollution between control and experimental settings for all the major air components, particularly for PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10 (mean difference, respectively, 18.71 ± 2.18 μg/m3, 19.53 ± 2.19 μg/m3 and 26.32 ± 2.66 μg/m3; p&lt;.001). PWV was significantly higher after the exposure in the experimental setting (mean increase of 0.2 ± 0.02 m/s; p&lt;.001), with no variation occurring in the control situation. Also brachial and central blood pressure (BP) depicted greater magnitude of increase during the outdoor walk in the urban setting, as compared with the green environment. Conclusions: Short-term exposure to air pollution during an outdoor walk was shown to be associated with arterial stiffness. The deleterious association of air pollution with vascular function is further buttressed by its hemodynamic impact, particularly increasing brachial and central BP.

Physical activity and exercise therapy in oncology

Optimized and individualized treatment options in oncology significantly improve the prognosis of patients. Accordingly, the management of side effects and the avoidance of long-term consequences is becoming increasingly more important. Numerous studies have shown apositive impact of physical activity and targeted exercise therapy on certain patient-related outcomes. Ideally, patients are introduced to exercise therapy directly after the diagnosis is made in order to enable adequate supportive monitoring and to sustainably reduce therapy-associated side effects. Meanwhile, scientific findings have resulted in concrete recommendations for action to effectively improve the main patient-related outcomes, such as fatigue or depression. A moderate endurance training in combination with individualized strength training seems to be of particular importance. In principle, oncological training and exercise therapy can be recommended to every cancer patient regardless of the form of cancer and the timing of therapy but taking the contraindications into account. Therefore, the aim of communal as well as national efforts should be to implement a comprehensive offer of professional exercise therapy to facilitate access of cancer patients to these services as well as to ensure adequate care during and after treatment.

Physical Activity and Health-related Quality of Life from Diagnosis to One Year After Radical Cystectomy in Patients with Bladder Cancer: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence shows a positive impact of physical activity (PA) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cancer patients. However, longitudinal evidence on PA and HRQoL in patients with bladder cancer (BC) undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To investigate PA levels, HRQoL outcomes and their relationship from diagnosis to one year after RC in BC patients. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study in 90 BC patients was conducted at Ghent and Leuven University Hospitals between April 2017 and December 2020. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) and the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BLM30 were used to measure PA and HRQoL, respectively, before RC, one, three, six and twelve months after RC. Linear mixed models were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The majority was physically inactive before RC (58%), at month one (79%), three (53%), six (61%) and twelve (64%). Among (moderately) active patients, light-intensity activities (mainly walking) were important contributors to the total amount of PA. Clinically important and low HRQoL outcomes in different domains were identified with lowest scores at diagnosis and one month after RC. Active patients before RC have better physical functioning (mean difference (MD) -22.7, standard error (SE) 8.7, p = 0.011), global health status (MD -15.9, SE 6.9, p = 0.023) and fatigue (MD 19.9, SE 9.5, p = 0.038) one month after RC, compared to inactive patients. Active patients at month have better physical functioning (MD -16.2, SE 6.9, p = 0.023) and sexual functioning (MD -16.8, SE 5.4, p = 0.003; MD -13.5, SE 5.5, p = 0.017) at month six and twelve, respectively, compared to inactive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PA levels are associated with better HRQoL outcomes for BC patients undergoing RC. The data suggests that PA interventions could be an asset to improve BC patients’ HRQoL, but should be tested in future trials.

Physical Activity and Interpersonal Adaptation in Chinese Adolescents After COVID-19: The Mediating Roles of Self-Esteem and Psychological Resilience.

Previous studies have implied that physical activity profoundly influences interpersonal adaptation. However, this effect and its mechanisms have not been directly verified, especially for adolescents. This study examines the association between physical activity and interpersonal adaptation in adolescents through self-esteem and psychological resilience after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Participants included 542 Chinese adolescents (aged 13-18 years; 242 boys and 300 girls). Adolescents in China anonymously completed a series of questionnaires, including the PARS-3 Scale of PE Activity Grade (PARS-3), the Self-esteem Scale (SES), the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (RSCA), and the Interpersonal Adaptation Scale. The results showed that physical activity positively correlated with self-esteem, psychological resilience, and interpersonal adaptation. Additionally, self-esteem and psychological resilience serially mediated the impact of physical activity on interpersonal adaptation. The findings highlight the positive impact of physical activity on adolescent interpersonal adaptation by strengthening positive psychological resources in the post-pandemic era.

Physical activity in inflammatory bowel disease: benefits, challenges and perspectives.

Physical activity is gaining significative interest in the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the light of the most recent publications, the present review aims to describe the level of physical activity in adult patients with IBD; describe the current body of evidence on the benefits of physical activity and discuss the challenges and perspectives related to physical activity in this population. Recent studies showed that IBD patients tend to be less active than healthy people. There is growing evidence of a positive impact of physical activity on mortality, quality of life, fatigue, body composition, strength and physical performance. The direct benefits of physical activity on clinical remission and disease activity have recently been observed only in Crohn's disease. Limitations to physical activity related to the disease, such as gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms, need to be considered in this population. Finally, no guidelines are available and there is no evidence regarding the effects of combined physical activity and nutritional support. Although physical activity seems beneficial and safe for IBD patients, future studies are needed to clearly define recommendations in this population.

Physical Inactivity - the Human Health's Greatest Enemy.

For decades, research has been highlighting the positive impact of physical activity on health. Despite the immense efforts made by many professional and scientific organizations to raise individual and societal awareness about the role of a sufficient quantity and intensity of physical activity in everyday life and to increase the level of adherence, the situation is still very worrying. Even more worrying is the fact that increasingly prolonged periods of physical inactivity are insidiously and aggressively taking over modern people’s lives – at school, at work, at home, even at leisure. It is probably incomprehensible and difficult for many to accept, but physical inactivity is becoming the first and worst enemy of health in today’s society.

Arterial Stiffness and Age Moderate the Association Between Physical Activity and Cognition in Older Adults

Background: Evidence supports that time spent on physical activity has beneficial effects on cognition in older adults. Nevertheless, this beneficial effect is likely to change in function of individual modifying factors like age and level of arterial stiffness. This study aims to reveal whether arterial stiffness and age modulate the positive impact of physical activity on cognition by developing a double moderation model. Methods: 110 healthy older adults aged 60 to 75 years old were examined for arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity [cf-PWV]), global cognition (composite score of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Mini-Mental State Examination), and self-reported physical activity (PACED diary). Using PROCESS macro for SPSS, we evaluated if cf-PWV (moderator 1), and age (moderator 2) moderate the relationship between physical activity (X) and global cognition (Y). The threshold for high stiffness was set at 8.5 m/s based on previous studies that reported this cut-off more appropriate for classifying cerebrovascular risk groups. Results: The interaction of arterial stiffness x age moderated the effect of physical activity on global cognition (β=-.89, SE=.42, p=.037) (Model: R2=.15, p=.018). Physical activity had a positive effect on cognition in younger-older adults (aged 60 to 68.5 years) with cf-PWV>8.5 m/s (β=.57, SE=.222, p=.011, 95% CI.133 to 1.014) and on older-older adults (aged 68.6 to 75 years) with cf-PWV<8.5 m/s (β=.49, SE=.190, p=.010, 95% CI=.116 to .869). Conclusions: Identifying the right age groups and arterial stiffness levels at which physical activity can have beneficial effects on cognition is a key step in providing tailored behavioral interventions.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition in healthy elderly and MCI patients

AbstractBackgroundCurrent research indicates a positive impact of physical activity on healthy ageing, on brain plasticity and on the risk for dementia. Furthermore, several epidemiological, cross‐sectional and interventional studies have shown that cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive performance, especially regarding executive functions.MethodHere, we investigated the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition in both healthy elderly (n=33; age: 68.8 ± 6.9) and in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=27, age: 70.8 ± 6.1). Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using bicycle spiroergometry (cosmos torqualizer 600ef med; Germany) with an incremental step test. To determine the metabolic status, capillary blood samples were taken from the ear at rest (baseline), after each step and one, three and five minutes after the incremental step test was finished. The lactate concentration was measured with lactate scout sensors (SensLab GmbH Leipzig, Germany). Cognitive abilities were measured with the extended CERAD plus neuropsychological test battery (including Trial making test &amp; verbal fluency S words).ResultStatistical analysis revealed significant between group differences in cognitive functions (e.g. MMSE, p&lt;.001 TMT‐A, p&lt;.001), but no significant differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (e.g. VO2peak, Wpeak, lactate). Furthermore, correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between VO2peak and MMSE in healthy elderly (p=.029, r=‐0.333)), but not in MCI patients (p=.317, r=‐0.096).ConclusionOur results indicate no differences in cardiorespiratory fitness between healthy elderly and MCI patients. However, cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with general cognition in healthy elderly. Why this correlation was not seen in MCI patients needs to be assessed in more detail in future research.