Associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cognitive domain performance of people living with mild cognitive impairment in the community

Jane Hopkins; Joanne McVeigh; Keith Hill; Kathryn A Ellis; Angela Jacques; Elissa Burton

doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12944

Associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cognitive domain performance of people living with mild cognitive impairment in the community

Aust Occup Ther J. 2024 Apr 14. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12944. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jane Hopkins¹, Joanne McVeigh^{1

2

3}, Keith Hill⁴, Kathryn A Ellis^{5

6}, Angela Jacques^{1

7}, Elissa Burton^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
² School of Physiology, Movement Physiology Laboratory, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
³ enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
⁴ Rehabilitation Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.

PMID: 38616178
DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12944

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity is known to positively influence cognitive performance. For adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the relationship between physical activity levels and cognitive performance is unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine if cognitive performance [as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)] of people living in the community with MCI is associated with their physical activity levels or sedentary behaviour.

Methods: ActivPAL™ accelerometers were used to objectively measure physical activity and sedentary behaviour for seven full days. Cognitive performance was measured using the MoCA.

Consumer and community involvement: No involvement other than as research participants RESULTS: Eighty-two participants from the Balance on the Brain randomised controlled trial were included. Most participants were retired (88%), with 33 (40%) reporting a fall in the last year. The median MoCA score was 24 (IQR 22-26). Participants achieved a mean of 6296 (±2420) steps per day and were sedentary for 10.6 (±2) hours per day. The only physical activity outcomes that had a fair, positive correlation were moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity measures of total stepping time and total number of steps (with a cadence of ≥100 steps/min) with the orientation MoCA domain score (r(82) = 0.36, p ≤ 0.001 and r(82) = 0.37, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). Higher total sedentary time had a weak, positive correlation with better visuospatial/executive performance (r(82) = 0.23, p = 0.041). The orientation outcomes remained significant when analysed in an adjusted logistic regression model.

Conclusion: This study found that performance in the MoCA orientation domain had a fair-positive correlation with moderate-intensity physical activity (i.e., stepping time and step count with a cadence of ≥100 steps/min) as measured by a thigh-worn accelerometer for community-dwelling older adults with MCI. When considering the relationship between cognitive domains and sedentary behaviour, consideration may be needed regarding whether cognitive enhancing activities (such as crosswords and other brain games) are being performed, which may confound this relationship. Further investigation is required to confirm these results.

Keywords: ActivPAL; accelerometer; cognitive domain skills; community‐dwelling; mild cognitive disorder; physical activity; sedentary behaviour.

Abstract

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