Cardiorespiratory Fitness Tied to Better Cognitive Performance in Seniors

THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in older adults is associated with better cognitive performance for episodic memory, processing speed, working memory, executive function/attentional control, and visuospatial function, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Lauren E. Oberlin, Ph.D., from AdventHealth Orlando in Florida, and colleagues evaluated the association between CRF and cognition among 648 older adults (mean age, 69.88 years).

The researchers found that the highest oxygen consumption obtained during testing (VO_2max) was a mean of 21.68 mL/kg/min. A five-factor model was built that included episodic memory, processing speed, working memory, executive function/attentional control, and visuospatial function. When controlling for covariates, higher CRF was associated with better performance across all five cognitive domains. These associations were not modified by age or apolipoprotein E ε4 carriage. The relationship between CRF and cognitive performance was greater among women, those with fewer years of education, and those taking beta-blockers in the domains of processing speed (sex: β = −0.447; education: β = −0.863) and executive function/attentional control (sex: β= −0.417; education: β = −0.759; beta-blocker use: β = 0.305).

“These data emphasize CRF as an important health factor and therapeutic target for preserving multidomain cognitive functioning in late adulthood,” the authors write.

Several authors reported ties to relevant organizations.

Abstract/Full Text