Effects of Activity Level on Cognitive Change in Adulthood: a Multilevel Analysis

cognition;aging;activity

Germain, Cassandra Mallory ; Thomas M. Hess, Ph. D, Committee Chair,Shevaun D. Neupert, Ph.D., Committee Co-Chair,Lynne Baker-Ward, Ph.D., Committee Member,Christopher Mayhorn, Ph.D., Committee Member,Germain, Cassandra Mallory ; Thomas M. Hess ; Ph. D ; Committee Chair ; Shevaun D. Neupert ; Ph.D. ; Committee Co-Chair ; Lynne Baker-Ward ; Ph.D. ; Committee Member ; Christopher Mayhorn ; Ph.D. ; Committee Member

University:North Carolina State University

关键词: cognition;    aging;    activity;   

Others  :  https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.16/6250/etd.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: null

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACTGERMAIN, CASSANDRA M. Effects ofActivity Level on Cognitive Change in Adulthood: A Multilevel Analysis. Under the direction of Thomas M. Hess, and Shevaun D. Neupert. Research supports the idea that leading an active lifestyle may help slow the negative effects of aging on cognition in older adults (McKinnon et al, 2003). However, little is known about the relationship between activity and cognitive change in younger and middle adulthood. The current study seeks to extend the literature by examining the effects of maintaining an engaged and active lifestyle on cognition throughout adulthood. The goals of the current study are threefold. First, the relationship between activity and cognition was examined throughout the lifespan (young, middle and older adults). Second, the effects of activity on the trajectory of cognitive change and the likelihood of dementia diagnosis were examined. Lastly, the directionality of the relationship between activity and cognition was examined.Participants in this study were a subset of adult volunteers from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) with no known diagnosis of dementia at the beginning of the study. The Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and the vocabulary subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) were used as indicators of cognitive ability. Scores on the Activities and Attitudes Questionnaire (AAQ) were used as a measure of activity level. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted. Examination of current cognitive functioning used multiple regression analysis. Differential trajectories of change were also examined by activity, age, sex, education, work status and health using multilevel modeling on seven waves of data. Activity was found to be associated both with memory performance and decreased risk of dementia diagnosis. These effects were further moderated by health status with individuals in poor health experiencing the greatest influence of increased activity. Results of the current study further suggest that the effects of activity may be domain specific, with fluid abilities potentially being more sensitive These effects were further moderated by health status with individuals in poor health experiencing the greatest influence of increased activity. Results of the current study further suggest that the effects of activity may be domain specific, with fluid abilities potentially being more sensitive to the benefits of activity than crystallized abilities.