Physical activity and its association with cognitive function in middle- and older-aged Chinese: Evidence from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, 2015

Relationship between different physical activity parameters and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults: insights from a 4-year longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) is crucial for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and may be associated with cognitive impairment. This study investigated the longitudinal relationship between PA from different parameters (e.g., frequency, duration, intensity, and volume) and the incidence of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

Data were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015). A total of 891 adults aged 45 and older were included in this study. Cognitive function was assessed using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status criteria, focused on episodic memory and executive function. We categorized participants into normal cognition and cognitive impairment groups. Self-reported PA information including frequency, duration, intensity, and volume was collected through a representative survey. Poisson regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between PA parameters and the incidence of cognitive impairment over four years.

RESULTS

Engaging in moderate or light PA (MPA or LPA) at least three days per week, and vigorous PA (VPA) one to two days per week, was associated with a reduced incidence of cognitive impairment. Additionally, spending 30-119 min per day or 150 min per week or more on any PA intensity was linked to lower cognitive impairment prevalence. Sensitivity analysis, excluding individuals with neurological, mental, or memory impairments, confirmed these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings highlight that the frequency, duration, and volume of VPA, MPA, or LPA are linked to the incidence of cognitive impairment. Regular PA may reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults.

Dual group-based trajectories of physical activity and cognitive function in aged over 55: a nationally representative cohort study

Background

As individuals age, they commonly experience reduced physical activity and cognitive decline. While evidence, there is limited trajectory research on their concurrent progression and interrelation in individuals over 55 years old.

Methods

The data was collected from 5,765 individuals aged over 55 years who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) between 2011 and 2020. Physical activity was measured by IPAQ, cognitive function by episodic memory, and mental intactness score. Separate sets of group-based trajectory models were fitted to identify physical activity trajectories and cognitive function trajectories. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association between baseline characteristics and each set of trajectories. Group-based dual trajectory modeling (GBDTM) was applied to quantify these associations.

Results

GBDTM identified three distinct trajectory groups for physical activity and cognitive outcomes. The physical activity trajectories were classified as "Persistently low physical activity" (74.2%), "Decreasing physical activity" (13.7%), and "Rising physical activity" (12.1%). Similarly, cognitive function trajectories were categorized as "Persistently low cognitive function" (22.2%), "Persistently moderate cognitive function" (37.9%), and "Persistently high cognitive function" (39.9%). Notably, 15.6% of participants followed the trajectories of "Persistently low physical activity" and "Persistently low cognitive function." The presence of a severe decline in physical activity was associated with an increased likelihood of poor cognitive function and vice versa. Age, sex, education, residential status, BMI, and visual impairment were identified as significant predictors for physical activity and cognitive decline.

Conclusion

This study found that the GBDTM can determine the consistent trajectories of physical activity and cognitive function trajectories that persistently decline in individuals over 55 years. Analyses of predictive factors can be instrumental in promoting physical activity and delaying cognitive decline.

Associations of physical activity intensity, frequency, duration, and volume with the incidence of sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults: a 4-year longitudinal study in China

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) plays an important role in the process of several chronic diseases. It may be also associated with the incidence of sarcopenia. This study aimed to determine the association of PA from different components including frequency, duration, intensity, and volume with the incidence of sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

This study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011 and 2015. A total of 3,760 individuals aged ≥ 40 years were involved in this study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using muscle mass, strength and physical performance according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. PA information including frequency, duration, intensity, and volume was obtained by a self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between PA and the incidence of sarcopenia at 4-year follow-up.

RESULTS

The incidence of sarcopenia was 5.9% during the 4-year follow-up. Compared to sedentary individuals, those taking 1-2 days or more per week, or a minimum of 10 min each time on vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) had a lower incidence of sarcopenia. Adults spending 3 days or more each week, a minimum of 30 min each time, or 150 min or more per week on moderate-intensity PA (MPA) had a lower presence of sarcopenia than sedentary adults. Adults taking 3 days or more per week, at least 30 min each time, or 150 min or more each week on light-intensity PA (LPA) tended to have a lower incidence of sarcopenia than sedentary individuals. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings after removing persons with hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the frequency, duration, and volume of VPA or MPA are negatively associated with the presence of sarcopenia. Participation in LPA tends to have a lower incidence of sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.

Rural-urban health differences among aging adults in India

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the rural-urban health differences among aging adults in India.

Methods

The national cross-sectional data of 67,489 individuals (≥45 years) in 2017-2018 from 35 states and union territories of India (excluding Sikkim) in 2017-2018 were analysed. Various sociodemographic data, well-being indicators, lifestyle factors and physical conditions were assessed by face-to-face interviews and physical measurement. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was utilized to assess the predictors between residence status (rural dweller, urban migrant, and urban dweller) and various health indicator outcomes.

Results

Majority (70.4 %) of the participants lived in rural areas, 10.3 % were urban migrants and 19.3 % urban dwellers. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, urban migrants and urban dwellers had a higher self-rated health status, cognitive functioning, physical inactivity, overweight or obesity and abdominal obesity than rural dwellers, while urban migrants and/or urban dwellers had lower functional disability, insomnia symptoms, current smokeless tobacco use, current smoking, heavy episodic drinking and underweight than rural dwellers. Furthermore, urban migrants and/or urban dwellers had higher odds of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, high cholesterol than rural dwellers, while urban migrants and/or urban dwellers had lower odds of persistent headaches, major injury, recurrent fall, physical pain, periodontal disease, vision impairment, and gastrointestinal problems than rural dwellers.

Conclusion

Among 30 health indicators assessed, 16 had an urban migrant and/or urban dweller advantage, 8 had urban migrant and/or urban dweller penalty, and 6 did not differ between rural-urban groups. Public health promotion and health care should address differing health care needs of rural and urban middle-aged and older adults.

Physical activity attenuated the associations between ambient air pollutants and metabolic syndrome (MetS): A nationwide study across 28 provinces

The independent associations of air pollution and Physical activity (PA) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) were inconsistent, while the joint associations between PA and air pollution with MetS were still unknown. We aimed to (1) further confirm the independent associations of PA and air pollution; (2) examine whether PA would attenuate the positive associations of air pollutants with MetS. We included 13,418 adults above 45 years old in this study. We defined MetS according to the Joint Interim Societies. The concentration of air pollutants (including fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particles (PM₁₀), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO)) were estimated by ground-based measurements and satellite remote sensing products. We assessed the level of PA by metabolic equivalent (MET)-hour/week by summing the MET of all activities. We applied logistic regression models with sampling weight to explore the independent and joint associations of PA and air pollutants on MetS. Interaction plots were conducted to exhibit estimates of air pollutants on MetS as a function of PA. We found that all air pollutants were positively associated with the odds of MetS, while PA showed beneficial associations with MetS. The associations of air pollution on MetS decreased accompanied the increase of PA, while the detrimental effects between air pollutants and MetS did not be reversed by PA. In conclusion, PA may attenuate the associations of air pollutants with MetS, although in polluted areas, suggesting that keeping PA might be an effective way to reduce the adverse effects of air pollution with MetS.