Slower maximal walking speed is associated with poorer global cognitive function among older adults residing in China

Structural dimensions of physical function and their associations with working memory in adults aged 60-74 years

The association between physical function and working memory in older adults is moderated by structural dimensions of physical function, but it is unclear which structural dimensions of physical function are associated with working memory in healthy older adults. The purpose of this study was to construct the structural dimensions of physical function and assess their associations with working memory in adults aged 60-74 years to provide potential targets for earlier identification and interventions of physical function and working memory decline in older adults. To this end, data from 664 to 589 eligible older adults were used for factor analysis and structural equation modeling, respectively. A constructed structural model of three factors of physical function had good reliability and validity. The structural dimensions of physical function in adults aged 60-74 years were mobility and dynamic balance, muscular strength and cardiorespiratory endurance. Physical function in older adults was closely associated with working memory, with mobility and dynamic balance-but not muscular strength and cardiorespiratory endurance- closely associated with working memory.

Acquisition and Retention Effects of Fundamental Movement Skills on Physical Activity and Health-Related Fitness of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study adopted a quasi-experimental design to explore the effects of fundamental movement skill intervention on the acquisition and retention of physical activity levels and health-related fitness in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the experiments, 11 children received fundamental motor skill training (12 weeks, 60 min/session, 4 times/week), and 10 children maintained traditional physical activity. Assessments were performed using an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer, health-related fitness pre-post intervention, and 1-month follow-up tests. The sedentary time during physical activity was significantly decreased (p = 0.01), and there were large changes in health-related physical fitness indicators, including significantly improved body composition (body mass index, F(1,19) = 8.631, p = 0.03, partial η2 = 0.312), muscle strength and endurance (sit-ups, F(1,19) = 3.376, p = 0.02, partial η2 = 0.151 and vertical jumps, F(1,19) = 5.309, p = 0.04, partial η2 = 0.218), and flexibility (sit and reach, F(1,19) = 36.228, p = 0.02, partial η2 = 0.656). Moreover, the follow-up tests showed that the children's sedentary time continued to reduce, and the muscle strength and endurance (sit-ups, F(1,19) = 4.215, p = 0.01, partial η2 = 0.426) improved continuously after the intervention. Based on this study, actionable and regular fundamental movement skill programs can be provided in the future as an effective way to achieve the healthy development goals of children with ASD.

Discrete Relationships between Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics and Domain-Specific Neuropsychological Performance in Midlife

Midlife risk factors such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) confer a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment in later life with executive function, memory, and attention domains often affected first. Spatiotemporal gait characteristics are emerging as important integrative biomarkers of neurocognitive function and of later dementia risk. We examined 24 spatiotemporal gait parameters across five domains of gait previously linked to cognitive function on usual-pace, maximal-pace, and cognitive dual-task gait conditions in 102 middle-aged adults with (57.5 ± 8.0 years; 40% female) and without (57.0 ± 8.3 years; 62.1% female) T2DM. Neurocognitive function was measured using a neuropsychological assessment battery. T2DM was associated with significant changes in gait phases and rhythm domains at usual pace, and greater gait variability observed during maximal pace and dual tasks. In the overall cohort, both the gait pace and rhythm domains were associated with memory and executive function during usual pace. At maximal pace, gait pace parameters were associated with reaction time and delayed memory. During the cognitive dual task, associations between gait variability and both delayed memory/executive function were observed. Associations persisted following covariate adjustment and did not differ by T2DM status. Principal components analysis identified a consistent association of slower gait pace (step/stride length) and increased gait variability during maximal-pace walking with poorer memory and executive function performance. These data support the use of spatiotemporal gait as an integrative biomarker of neurocognitive function in otherwise healthy middle-aged individuals and reveal discrete associations between both differing gait tasks and gait domains with domain-specific neuropsychological performance. Employing both maximal-pace and dual-task paradigms may be important in cognitively unimpaired populations with risk factors for later cognitive decline-with the aim of identifying individuals who may benefit from potential preventative interventions.

Biological and Physical Performance Markers for Early Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

Dementia is a major cause of poor quality of life, disability, and mortality in old age. According to the geroscience paradigm, the mechanisms that drive the aging process are also involved in the pathogenesis of chronic degenerative diseases, including dementia. The dissection of such mechanisms is therefore instrumental in providing biological targets for interventions and new sources for biomarkers. Within the geroscience paradigm, several biomarkers have been discovered that can be measured in blood and that allow early identification of individuals at risk of cognitive impairment. Examples of such markers include inflammatory biomolecules, markers of neuroaxonal damage, extracellular vesicles, and DNA methylation. Furthermore, gait speed, measured at a usual and fast pace and as part of a dual task, has been shown to detect individuals at risk of future dementia. Here, we provide an overview of available biomarkers that may be used to gauge the risk of cognitive impairment in apparently healthy older adults. Further research should establish which combination of biomarkers possesses the highest predictive accuracy toward incident dementia. The implementation of currently available markers may allow the identification of a large share of at-risk individuals in whom preventive interventions should be implemented to maintain or increase cognitive reserves, thereby reducing the risk of progression to dementia.

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identify three structural dimensions for measuring physical function in community-dwelling older adults

Background

Physical function is a strong indicator of biological age and quality of life among older adults. However, the results from studies exploring the structural dimensions of physical function are inconsistent, and the measures assessed vary greatly, leading to a lack of comparability among them. This study aimed to construct a model to identify structural dimensions that are suitable and best assess physical function among community-dwelling adults 60-74 years of age in China.

Method

This study was conducted in 11 communities in Shanghai, China, from May to July 2021. A total of 381 adults 60-74 years of age were included in the study. Measured physical function data were used in factor analyses. Data collected from individuals were randomly assigned to either exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 190) or confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 191). The statistical software used in the study was SPSS for EFA and AMOS for CFA. To test the properties of the structural dimension model of physical function, various fit indices, convergent validity, and discriminant validity were calculated.

Results

The EFA results derived seven indicators in three factors, with 58.548% of the total variance explained. The three factors were mobility function (three indicators), which explained 26.380% of the variance, handgrip strength and pulmonary function (two indicators), which explained 19.117% of the variance, and muscle strength (two indicators) which explained 13.050% of the variance. The CFA indicated that this model had an acceptable fit (χ2/df ratio, 2.102; GFI, 0.967; IFI, 0.960; CFI, 0.959; and RMSEA, 0.076), and the criteria for convergent validity and discriminability were also met by the model.

Conclusion

The constructed structural dimension model of physical function appeared to be a suitable and reliable tool to measure physical function in community-dwelling adults aged 60-74 years in China. The structural dimension indicators identified by this model may help sports medicine experts and healthcare providers offer more targeted interventions for older adults to reverse or slow the decline of physical function and to offer actionable targets for healthy aging in this population.