Association between physical activity and functional and cognitive status in nonagenarians: results from the Mugello study. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pancani, Silvia; Vannetti, Federica; Sofi, Francesco; Cecchi, Francesca; Pasquini, Guido; Fabbri, Laura; Mosca, Irene Eleonora; Macchi, Claudio
• Is Part Of: International psychogeriatrics. Volume 31:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 901
• Page End: 908
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: physical activity, -- cognitive impairment, -- health aging, -- aging; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; 618.9768905
• DOI: 10.1017/S1041610218001424
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1041-6102

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aimed at assessing daily physical activity and its relationship with functional and cognitive status in nonagenarians. Cross-sectional study. 167 nonagenarians (124 women and 43 men, mean age 92 years ± 3) who participated in the Mugello study. Participants underwent daily step count through the SenseWear armband, which was considered as an indicator of physical activity. Other main variables were: handgrip strength, gait speed, depression, cognitive status and quality of life. The median value of steps per day was 883 and 658 in women and men, respectively, with a participant, in the women group, showing values up to 10, 000. After adjusting for potential confounders, physical activity remained a significant positive correlate of handgrip strength (r = 0.4), gait speed (r = 0.8), and cognitive status (r = 0.6 and 0.8, respectively for raw scores and for scores adjusted for age and education). On the contrary, physical activity remained a significant negative correlate of depression (r = 0.5). Our results provide quantitative information on daily physical activity and show a significant relationship between daily physical activity and functional and cognitive status in nonagenarians.