Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults

ObjectiveTo analyze the correlation between the level of physical activity and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults aged 60 years and above, and to provide correlational evidence for the development of targeted strategies to prevent cognitive impairment.MethodsThis study used fiv...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Feng-Wei Dong, Dong-Hui Wang, Yu-Jie Chang, Li-Xu Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1519494/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850255703940268032
author Feng-Wei Dong
Feng-Wei Dong
Dong-Hui Wang
Yu-Jie Chang
Li-Xu Tang
author_facet Feng-Wei Dong
Feng-Wei Dong
Dong-Hui Wang
Yu-Jie Chang
Li-Xu Tang
author_sort Feng-Wei Dong
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo analyze the correlation between the level of physical activity and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults aged 60 years and above, and to provide correlational evidence for the development of targeted strategies to prevent cognitive impairment.MethodsThis study used five rounds of longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted between 2011 and 2020, which included 3,583 older adults aged 60 years and above. Multiple regression models were employed to evaluate the association between varying intensities of physical activity (low-intensity, moderate-intensity, and high-intensity) and the risk of developing cognitive impairment (HR).ResultsIn models that were not adjusted for any variables, the risk of cognitive impairment was reduced by 25.3% in the moderate-intensity physical activity group compared to the low-intensity group (HR = 0.747, 95%CI: 0.617–0.903), and by 11.0% in the high-intensity group (HR = 0.890, 95%CI: 0.798–0.992). In the model that fully controlled for all confounding variables, the risk ratio was further reduced to 30.7% (HR = 0.693, 95%CI: 0.571–0.841) in the moderate-intensity physical activity group and 9.7% (HR = 0.903, 95% CI: 0.809–1.007) in the high-intensity group. Dose–response analysis revealed an optimal strength of association between moderate-intensity physical activity (approximately 2,800 MET-minutes per week) and cognitive health.ConclusionModerate-intensity physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive impairment among older adults in China. It is recommended that health management and cognitive impairment prevention strategies for this population incorporate moderate-intensity physical activity.
format Article
id doaj-art-8580d7c4b5e945108c3e2273a35e1cda
institution OA Journals
issn 1663-4365
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
spelling doaj-art-8580d7c4b5e945108c3e2273a35e1cda2025-08-20T01:56:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience1663-43652025-05-011710.3389/fnagi.2025.15194941519494Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adultsFeng-Wei Dong0Feng-Wei Dong1Dong-Hui Wang2Yu-Jie Chang3Li-Xu Tang4Martial Arts Academy, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Yuncheng University, Yuncheng, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Yuncheng University, Yuncheng, Shanxi, ChinaMartial Arts Academy, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaMartial Arts Academy, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, Hubei, ChinaObjectiveTo analyze the correlation between the level of physical activity and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults aged 60 years and above, and to provide correlational evidence for the development of targeted strategies to prevent cognitive impairment.MethodsThis study used five rounds of longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted between 2011 and 2020, which included 3,583 older adults aged 60 years and above. Multiple regression models were employed to evaluate the association between varying intensities of physical activity (low-intensity, moderate-intensity, and high-intensity) and the risk of developing cognitive impairment (HR).ResultsIn models that were not adjusted for any variables, the risk of cognitive impairment was reduced by 25.3% in the moderate-intensity physical activity group compared to the low-intensity group (HR = 0.747, 95%CI: 0.617–0.903), and by 11.0% in the high-intensity group (HR = 0.890, 95%CI: 0.798–0.992). In the model that fully controlled for all confounding variables, the risk ratio was further reduced to 30.7% (HR = 0.693, 95%CI: 0.571–0.841) in the moderate-intensity physical activity group and 9.7% (HR = 0.903, 95% CI: 0.809–1.007) in the high-intensity group. Dose–response analysis revealed an optimal strength of association between moderate-intensity physical activity (approximately 2,800 MET-minutes per week) and cognitive health.ConclusionModerate-intensity physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive impairment among older adults in China. It is recommended that health management and cognitive impairment prevention strategies for this population incorporate moderate-intensity physical activity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1519494/fullelderly populationphysical activitycognitive impairmenttypes of activitieshealth protection
spellingShingle Feng-Wei Dong
Feng-Wei Dong
Dong-Hui Wang
Yu-Jie Chang
Li-Xu Tang
Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
elderly population
physical activity
cognitive impairment
types of activities
health protection
title Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults
title_full Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults
title_fullStr Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults
title_full_unstemmed Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults
title_short Correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults
title_sort correlation between physical activity levels and the risk of cognitive impairment in chinese older adults
topic elderly population
physical activity
cognitive impairment
types of activities
health protection
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1519494/full
work_keys_str_mv AT fengweidong correlationbetweenphysicalactivitylevelsandtheriskofcognitiveimpairmentinchineseolderadults
AT fengweidong correlationbetweenphysicalactivitylevelsandtheriskofcognitiveimpairmentinchineseolderadults
AT donghuiwang correlationbetweenphysicalactivitylevelsandtheriskofcognitiveimpairmentinchineseolderadults
AT yujiechang correlationbetweenphysicalactivitylevelsandtheriskofcognitiveimpairmentinchineseolderadults
AT lixutang correlationbetweenphysicalactivitylevelsandtheriskofcognitiveimpairmentinchineseolderadults