PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN MIDLIFE

Introduction Physical activity (PA) has been suggested to protect against old-age cognitive deficits. However, the independent role of childhood/youth PA for adulthood cognitive performance is unknown. This study investigated the association between PA from childhood to adulthood and midlife cognitive performance. Methods This study is a part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Since 1980, a population-based cohort of 3,596 children (age 3-18 years) have been followed-up in 3-9-year intervals. PA has been queried in all study phases. Cumulative PA was determined in childhood (age 6-12 years), adolescence (age 12-18 years), young adulthood (age 18-24 years) and adulthood (age 24-37 years). Cognitive performance was assessed using computerized neuropsychological test, CANTAB®, (N=2,026, age 34-39 years) in 2011. Results High PA in childhood (β 0.119, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.055–0.182) and adolescence (β 0.125, 95% CI 0.063–0.188) were associated with better reaction time in midlife independent of PA in other age frames. Additionally, an independent association of high PA in young adulthood with better visual processing and sustained attention in midlife was observed among men (β 0.101, 95% CI 0.001–0.200). There were no associations for other cognitive domains. Conclusion Cumulative exposure to PA from childhood to adulthood was found to be associated with better midlife reaction time. Furthermore, cumulative PA exposure in young adulthood and adulthood was associated with better visual processing and sustained attention in men. All associations were independent of participants PA level in other measured age frames. Therefore, a physically active lifestyle should be adopted already in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood and continued into midlife to ensure the plausible benefits of PA on midlife cognitive performance. Corresponding author: Juuso Hakala, Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland. Email: juolhak@utu.fi, tel: +358 29 450 4373 Authors contributed equally (Juuso O. Hakala and Suvi P. Rovio) The Young Finns Study has been financially supported by the Academy of Finland: 134309 (EYE), 126925, 121584, 124282, 129378 (SALVE), 117797 (GENDI), 273971 (TULOS) and 41071 (SKIDI), the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kuopio, Tampere and Turku University Hospital Medical Funds, Juho Vainio Foundation, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, Paavo Nurmi Foundation, Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation and Emil Aaltonen Foundation. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors report no relationships with industry. The funders of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The results of the present study do not constitute endorsement by ACSM. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. Accepted for publication December 2018. © 2018 American College of Sports Medicine

from Sports Medicine via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2EbmRUX
via IFTTT