ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2022 January;62(1):131-8

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.11599-3

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Physical capacities and leisure activities are related with cognitive functions in older adults

Federica GONNELLI ^{1, 2} ✉, Nicola GIOVANELLI ^{1, 2}, Mirco FLOREANI ^{1, 2}, Giulia BRAVO ¹, Maria PARPINEL ¹, Andrea D’AMURI ³, Gloria BROMBO ⁴, Edoardo DALLA NORA ⁴, Rado PIŠOT ⁵, Boštjan ŠIMUNIČ ⁵, Saša PIŠOT ⁵, Gianni BIOLO ⁶, Filippo G. di GIROLAMO ⁶, Roberta SITULIN ⁶, Angelina PASSARO ³, Stefano LAZZER ^{1, 2}

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy; ² School of Sport Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy; ³ Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; ⁴ Department of Medicine, Arcispedale Sant’Anna University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy; ⁵ Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Center of Koper, Koper, Slovenia; ⁶ Department of Medical Sciences, Surgical and Health Sciences, AOUTS Clinic, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical activity habits, physical performance and cognitive capacity in older adults’ population of Italy and Slovenia.
METHODS: Anthropometric characteristics and body composition bioelectrical impedance analysis were evaluated in 892 older adults (60-80 y). Aerobic capacity was measured using the 2-km walk test and handgrip and flexibility tests were performed. Physical activity habits and cognitive functions were evaluated by the Global-Physical-Activity-Questionnaires (GPAQ) and by Montreal-Cognitive-Assessment (MoCA) questionnaires, respectively.
RESULTS: GPAQ scores were associated with lower BMI (r=-0.096; P=0.005), lower percentage of fat-mass (r=-0.138; P=0.001), better results in the 2-km walk test (r=-0.175; P=0.001) and a higher percentage of fat-free mass (r=0.138; P=0.001). We also evaluated that a higher MoCA Score correlates with age (r=-0.208; P=0.001), 2-km walk test (r=-0.166; P=0.001), waist-hip ratio (r=-0.200; P=0.001), resting heart-rate (r=-0.087; P=0.025) and heart-rate at the end of 2-km walk test (r=0.189; P=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with a higher level of daily physical activity showed reduction in fat-mass and BMI, and higher aerobic fitness; these characteristics have a protection effect on cognitive function.

KEY WORDS: Aging; Exercise; Cognition; Habits