Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Abstract INTRODUCTION Studies on physical activity (PA) and dementia mainly focus on activity quantity or intensity. Yet PA requires neuro‐coordination of movement, and it is unclear whether complexity of daily activity varies by cognitive status. Thus, we examined the association between PA complex...
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70077 |
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| author | Yurun Cai Junhong Zhou Paul W. Scott Qu Tian Amal A. Wanigatunga Lewis Lipsitz Eleanor M. Simonsick Susan M. Resnick Luigi Ferrucci Dianxu Ren Jennifer H. Lingler Jennifer A. Schrack |
| author_facet | Yurun Cai Junhong Zhou Paul W. Scott Qu Tian Amal A. Wanigatunga Lewis Lipsitz Eleanor M. Simonsick Susan M. Resnick Luigi Ferrucci Dianxu Ren Jennifer H. Lingler Jennifer A. Schrack |
| author_sort | Yurun Cai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract INTRODUCTION Studies on physical activity (PA) and dementia mainly focus on activity quantity or intensity. Yet PA requires neuro‐coordination of movement, and it is unclear whether complexity of daily activity varies by cognitive status. Thus, we examined the association between PA complexity, using multiscale entropy, and cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia in older adults in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). METHODS A total of 637 older adults (age 73.9 ± 11.3 years) in the BLSA completed a 7‐day wrist‐worn accelerometer assessment and neuropsychological tests from 2015 to 2020. Using logistic regression and structural equation modeling, we examined cross‐sectional associations of PA complexity with MCI/dementia and cognition. Cross‐lagged panel models (CLPMs) were used to assess bidirectional associations at baseline and 2‐year follow‐up. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education years, body mass index, and comorbidities. RESULTS Participants in the lowest tertile of PA complexity had over double the odds of MCI/dementia (odds ratio = 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 6.79, p = 0.045) compared to those in the highest tertile in the fully adjusted model. Structural equation modeling showed that PA complexity was associated with global cognitive function (standardized B [SB] = 0.102, 95% CI: 0.033 to 0.171, p = 0.004), executive function (SB = 0.119, 95% CI: 0.049 to 0.189, p = 0.001), and visuospatial ability (SB = 0.096, 95% CI: 0.026 to 0.167, p = 0.008). CLPMs showed bidirectional associations between lower PA complexity and poorer executive function. DISCUSSION Lower complexity of accelerometry‐detected movement is associated with poorer cognition and higher risk of MCI/dementia. Future studies should explore whether low PA complexity is an early indicator of dementia. Highlights Prior studies mainly focused on quantity or intensity of physical activity. Poorer cognitive function was associated with lower complexity of daily activity. Lower complexity of physical activity may be an early indicator of dementia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5bcdbfd946234fe398e7201369eaf7bc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2352-8737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions |
| spelling | doaj-art-5bcdbfd946234fe398e7201369eaf7bc2025-08-20T02:22:09ZengWileyAlzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions2352-87372025-04-01112n/an/a10.1002/trc2.70077Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of AgingYurun Cai0Junhong Zhou1Paul W. Scott2Qu Tian3Amal A. Wanigatunga4Lewis Lipsitz5Eleanor M. Simonsick6Susan M. Resnick7Luigi Ferrucci8Dianxu Ren9Jennifer H. Lingler10Jennifer A. Schrack11Department of Health and Community Systems University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USAHinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Health and Community Systems University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USAIntramural Research Program National Institute on Aging Baltimore Maryland USADepartment of Epidemiology Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USAHinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USAIntramural Research Program National Institute on Aging Baltimore Maryland USAIntramural Research Program National Institute on Aging Baltimore Maryland USAIntramural Research Program National Institute on Aging Baltimore Maryland USADepartment of Health and Community Systems University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USADepartment of Health and Community Systems University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USADepartment of Epidemiology Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USAAbstract INTRODUCTION Studies on physical activity (PA) and dementia mainly focus on activity quantity or intensity. Yet PA requires neuro‐coordination of movement, and it is unclear whether complexity of daily activity varies by cognitive status. Thus, we examined the association between PA complexity, using multiscale entropy, and cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia in older adults in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). METHODS A total of 637 older adults (age 73.9 ± 11.3 years) in the BLSA completed a 7‐day wrist‐worn accelerometer assessment and neuropsychological tests from 2015 to 2020. Using logistic regression and structural equation modeling, we examined cross‐sectional associations of PA complexity with MCI/dementia and cognition. Cross‐lagged panel models (CLPMs) were used to assess bidirectional associations at baseline and 2‐year follow‐up. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education years, body mass index, and comorbidities. RESULTS Participants in the lowest tertile of PA complexity had over double the odds of MCI/dementia (odds ratio = 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 6.79, p = 0.045) compared to those in the highest tertile in the fully adjusted model. Structural equation modeling showed that PA complexity was associated with global cognitive function (standardized B [SB] = 0.102, 95% CI: 0.033 to 0.171, p = 0.004), executive function (SB = 0.119, 95% CI: 0.049 to 0.189, p = 0.001), and visuospatial ability (SB = 0.096, 95% CI: 0.026 to 0.167, p = 0.008). CLPMs showed bidirectional associations between lower PA complexity and poorer executive function. DISCUSSION Lower complexity of accelerometry‐detected movement is associated with poorer cognition and higher risk of MCI/dementia. Future studies should explore whether low PA complexity is an early indicator of dementia. Highlights Prior studies mainly focused on quantity or intensity of physical activity. Poorer cognitive function was associated with lower complexity of daily activity. Lower complexity of physical activity may be an early indicator of dementia.https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70077cognitive functioncognitive impairmentdementiaphysical activitystructural equation modeling |
| spellingShingle | Yurun Cai Junhong Zhou Paul W. Scott Qu Tian Amal A. Wanigatunga Lewis Lipsitz Eleanor M. Simonsick Susan M. Resnick Luigi Ferrucci Dianxu Ren Jennifer H. Lingler Jennifer A. Schrack Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions cognitive function cognitive impairment dementia physical activity structural equation modeling |
| title | Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging |
| title_full | Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging |
| title_fullStr | Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging |
| title_short | Physical activity complexity, cognition, and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging |
| title_sort | physical activity complexity cognition and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the baltimore longitudinal study of aging |
| topic | cognitive function cognitive impairment dementia physical activity structural equation modeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70077 |
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