A recent publication in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that physically active people have reduced risk of incident cognitive impairment in late life. The investigators studied the relationship between activity energy expenditure (AEE), an objective measure of total activity, and incidence of cognitive impairment.
The authors calculated AEE as 90% of total energy expenditure minus resting metabolic rate in 197 men and women (mean age, 74.8 years) who were free of mobility and cognitive impairments at study baseline (1998-1999). Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 2 or 5 years later using the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination.
After adjusting for baseline Modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores, demographics, fat-free mass, sleep duration, self-reported health, and diabetes mellitus, older adults in the highest tertile of AEE had lower odds (risk) of incident cognitive impairment than those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio, 0.09 [91% decreased odds]). This appeared to have a significant dose-response association.
This study suggests that findings greater physical activity (AEE) may protect against cognitive impairment.
What's next? Determining the maximal cognitive benefit from different levels of physical activity.
Hopefully this will be sorted out before I reach my golden years.
