1. Walking for Cognitive Health: Previous Parity Moderates the Relationship Between Self-Reported Walking and Cognition.
- Author
-
Barha, Cindy K, Best, John R, Rosano, Caterina, Yaffe, Kristine, Catov, Janet M, and Liu-Ambrose, Teresa
- Subjects
Public Health ,Health Sciences ,Brain Disorders ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Basic Behavioral and Social Science ,Aging ,Clinical Research ,Good Health and Well Being ,Male ,Pregnancy ,Humans ,Female ,Aged ,Parity ,Self Report ,Cognition ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Walking ,Cognitive aging ,Physical activity ,Reproductive experience ,Clinical Sciences ,Gerontology ,Biomedical and clinical sciences ,Health sciences - Abstract
BackgroundOlder females show greater cognitive gains from physical activity (PA) than males, which may be related to long-term consequences of female-specific reproductive events (eg, pregnancy) on cognitive health.MethodsTo determine whether previous parity could moderate the relationship between PA and cognitive decline in older women, we conducted secondary analyses of data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study. We tested whether the association between average PA over 10 years and cognition (Modified Mini-Mental State Examination [3MS]) and executive functioning (digit symbol substitution test [DSST]) over 10 years varied by previous parity (nulliparity, low parity, medium parity, and grand multiparity). An analysis of covariance was performed with cognition (average and change over 10 years) as the dependent variables, parity as a categorical predictor, average PA as a continuous predictor, and a set of relevant covariates.ResultsSignificant interactions were found between PA and parity group for all 4 comparisons: average 3MS (p = .014), average DSST (p = .032), change in 3MS (p = .016), and change in DSST (p = .017). Simple slope analyses indicated the positive relationship between PA and average 3MS and DSST was only significant in the nulliparity and grand multiparity groups, and the positive relationship between PA and change in 3MS and DSST was only significant in the grand multiparity group.ConclusionThe findings suggest the relationship between self-reported walking and cognitive performance was strongest in the groups at risk for cognitive decline and dementia, the nulliparous and grand multiparous groups.
- Published
- 2023