Research progress on the pathways and mechanisms through which physical activity and sleep affect cognitive function in older adults

In recent years, the regulatory role of lifestyle factors in the cognitive health of older adults has received considerable attention. Sleep status and physical activity are core modifiable lifestyle indicators, both of which can participate in the dynamic regulation of cognitive function through multiple pathways, including regulating neurotransmitter secretion, improving hippocampal neuroplasticity, and modulating oxidative stress levels in the brain; meanwhile, sleep and physical activity have a close bidirectional relationship and can jointly affect the brain's cognitive system. This article systematically reviews research progress on interactions of sleep and physical activity with cognitive function through multiple pathways, focusing on 3 core hypotheses: ① sleep and physical activity are each independently associated with cognitive function; ② sleep (or physical activity) moderates the strength of the association between physical activity (or sleep) and cognitive function; ③ sleep mediates the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function. On this basis, this article discusses the limitations of existing research and offers suggestions for future research directions, with the aim of providing a reference for designing evidence-based, cross-disciplinary collaborative intervention strategies and longitudinal studies across the entire life course.