Abstract

Background

Physical activity (PA) recommendations for older adults often endorse participation in moderate to vigorous intensity (MVPA). However, health disparities are evident such that African Americans engage in lower levels of MVPA, have a higher prevalence of chronic health and cognitive impairments. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the role of light PA in addition to MVPA and their associations with measures of executive function among African American older adults.

Methods

One hundred and ten participants (mean age = 64.78 ± 5.7, males = 14) completed measures of cognitive functioning, including the Trail making, Flanker and the N-back tasks. Additionally, participants completed a 6-minute walk test to estimate their cardiovascular fitness and were given an Actigraph accelerometer for 7-days to objectively assess their light and MVPA.

Results

Regression analyses controlling for age, fitness and education showed that higher levels of light PA but not MVPA predicted better cognitive performance on the incongruent flanker reaction time (β=-.24), trails B (β=-.24) and 1-back accuracy (β=.28). Both light PA and MVPA predicted faster reaction times on the 1-back and 2-back conditions of the n-back (light PA: β’s=-.22-.23; MVPA: β’s=-.28).

Conclusions

Light PA demonstrated similar or better associations than MVPA with cognitive functions which are known to decline with age. Designing and promoting light PA interventions in African American older adults maybe more feasible given the prevalence of disability and functional health disparities. Intervention studies testing the efficacy and effectiveness of light PA are needed and could have a significant public health impact among aging African Americans.

中文翻译：

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检查轻度与中度至剧烈体育活动对非洲裔美国成年人认知功能的影响

摘要

背景

针对老年人的身体活动 (PA) 建议通常认可参与中等强度至高强度 (MVPA)。然而，健康差异是显而易见的，因此非裔美国人的 MVPA 水平较低，慢性健康和认知障碍的患病率较高。这项横断面研究的目的是检查除 MVPA 之外轻度 PA 的作用及其与非洲裔美国老年人执行功能测量的关联。

方法

一百一十名参与者（平均年龄 = 64.78 ± 5.7，男性 = 14）完成了认知功能测量，包括 Trail making、Flanker 和 N-back 任务。此外，参与者还完成了 6 分钟的步行测试以评估他们的心血管健康状况，并获得了 7 天的 Actigraph 加速度计以客观评估他们的光照和 MVPA。

结果

控制年龄、健身和教育的回归分析表明，较高水平的轻度 PA 而不是 MVPA 预测在不一致的侧翼反应时间 (β=-.24)、轨迹 B (β=-.24) 和 1-back 上有更好的认知表现准确度 (β=.28)。轻型 PA 和 MVPA 都预测在 n-back 的 1-back 和 2-back 条件下反应时间更快（轻型 PA：β's=-.22-.23；MVPA：β's=-.28）。

结论

Light PA 表现出与 MVPA 相似或更好的关联，认知功能会随着年龄的增长而下降。鉴于残疾和功能性健康差异的普遍存在，设计和推广针对非裔美国老年人的轻度 PA 干预可能更可行。需要测试光 PA 的功效和有效性的干预研究，并且可能对老年非洲裔美国人的公共卫生产生重大影响。