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The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between total physical activity and different dimensions of cognitive function (orientation, attention, and memory) among older adults in rural Sichuan, China. This cross-sectional study involved 715 older adults (average age of 72 years). Total PA was measured by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and cognitive function was assessed by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) questionnaire. The multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that total PA and household PA were significantly associated with the overall Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status score (β = 0.143, p <.001; β = 0.115, p =.002, respectively), the orientation dimension (β = 0.142, p <.001; β = 0.131, p =.001, respectively), and the memory dimension (β = 0.179, p <.001; β = 0.134, p =.001, respectively). The study showed a positive association between total PA, household PA, and cognitive function in older adults, especially in the orientation dimension and the memory dimension of cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Current randomized trial evidence on the effect of physical activity (PA) intervention on cognitive function is scarce and mainly found in well‐educated populations, limiting its generalizability. Furthermore, the modification effect of education levels remains understudied. We conducted a cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effects of PA intervention on cognitive function in a general older population, and whether education modifies such effects. METHODS: Eight villages were randomized to the intervention (four villages, n = 240) or the control (four villages, n = 271). The intervention group received an 8‐week multilevel PA intervention based on a socio‐ecological model, while the control did not. The intervention has been condensed to three levels with activities occurring at the individual (telephone counseling, printed material, and training sessions), interpersonal (peer group), and community levels (group sharing and coaching). The primary outcome was changes in global cognition (overall cognitive function) measured by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS‐10) at 12‐month follow‐up. Repeated measurements were modeled using the linear mixed model, which assumed that the missing values were missing at random. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.94 years (standard deviation 5.71) and 55.6% were women. Compared to the control, the orientation improved from baseline at 12‐month follow‐up (0.24 points [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.03 to 0.46 points; P = 0.03]). Stratified analysis showed that the global cognition and orientation improved at 12‐month follow‐up among illiterate participants in the intervention (for global cognition, mean difference, 0.57 points [95% CI, 0.03 to 1.10], P = 0.04; for orientation, mean difference, 0.31 points [95% CI, 0.04 to 0.58], P = 0.03). DISCUSSION: These results confirm the improvements in orientation in older adults, as well as in global cognition and orientation in the illiterate at 12‐month follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]