The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in Women

This study aimed to examine associations between functional capacity (FC), brain β-amyloid (Aβ) burden, and longitudinal cognitive performance. Data from 89 cognitively normal women (70.0 ± 2.7 years) in the Women’s Healthy Ageing Project cohort were analyzed. FC was assessed using the timed up and...

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Main Authors: Raquel Pedrero-Chamizo, Cassandra Szoeke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5210
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author Raquel Pedrero-Chamizo
Cassandra Szoeke
author_facet Raquel Pedrero-Chamizo
Cassandra Szoeke
author_sort Raquel Pedrero-Chamizo
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to examine associations between functional capacity (FC), brain β-amyloid (Aβ) burden, and longitudinal cognitive performance. Data from 89 cognitively normal women (70.0 ± 2.7 years) in the Women’s Healthy Ageing Project cohort were analyzed. FC was assessed using the timed up and go (TUG) test and the Aβ burden was quantified via a F-18 Florbetaben PET scan with Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR). Cognition was evaluated longitudinally using the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC) over 3.9 ± 2.6 years. Multiple linear regression, mediation analysis, and linear mixed-effects models were applied. Baseline Aβ burden and years of education were associated with cognitive performance two to six years later, while the TUG performance was associated with cognitive outcomes at two years. Aβ burden was found to mediate the relationship between FC and cognition over time. A significant three-way interaction (TUG × SUVR × time) was observed, indicating that declines in the TUG performance over time were exclusively associated with steeper cognitive decline among women with elevated Aβ burden (SUVR ≥ 1.42). These findings suggest that maintaining functional mobility may be particularly relevant for women with increased Aβ burden and support future research targeting early motor-cognitive markers.
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spelling doaj-art-41df0664a2d74ef78503b9e936aa7bab2025-08-20T03:52:56ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-01159521010.3390/app15095210The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in WomenRaquel Pedrero-Chamizo0Cassandra Szoeke1ImFINE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainCentre for Research Implementation and Translation, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, AustraliaThis study aimed to examine associations between functional capacity (FC), brain β-amyloid (Aβ) burden, and longitudinal cognitive performance. Data from 89 cognitively normal women (70.0 ± 2.7 years) in the Women’s Healthy Ageing Project cohort were analyzed. FC was assessed using the timed up and go (TUG) test and the Aβ burden was quantified via a F-18 Florbetaben PET scan with Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR). Cognition was evaluated longitudinally using the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC) over 3.9 ± 2.6 years. Multiple linear regression, mediation analysis, and linear mixed-effects models were applied. Baseline Aβ burden and years of education were associated with cognitive performance two to six years later, while the TUG performance was associated with cognitive outcomes at two years. Aβ burden was found to mediate the relationship between FC and cognition over time. A significant three-way interaction (TUG × SUVR × time) was observed, indicating that declines in the TUG performance over time were exclusively associated with steeper cognitive decline among women with elevated Aβ burden (SUVR ≥ 1.42). These findings suggest that maintaining functional mobility may be particularly relevant for women with increased Aβ burden and support future research targeting early motor-cognitive markers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5210Alzheimer’s diseaseamyloidPETtimed up and gocognitionsuccessful aging
spellingShingle Raquel Pedrero-Chamizo
Cassandra Szoeke
The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in Women
Applied Sciences
Alzheimer’s disease
amyloid
PET
timed up and go
cognition
successful aging
title The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in Women
title_full The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in Women
title_fullStr The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in Women
title_full_unstemmed The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in Women
title_short The Link Between Physical Function, β-Amyloid, and Cognitive Aging in Women
title_sort link between physical function β amyloid and cognitive aging in women
topic Alzheimer’s disease
amyloid
PET
timed up and go
cognition
successful aging
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5210
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