Research on Aging · Mar 1, 2022

Prospective Associations between Physical Activity and Memory in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging: Examining Social Determinants

By Hammond NG, Stinchcombe A

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between physical activity (PA) and prospectively assessed memory in a cohort of cognitively healthy adults, after accounting for understudied social determinants. METHODS: We used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). PA (exposure) and memory (outcome) were assessed using validated measures in 2013-2015 and 2015-2018, respectively. Respondents reported their daily number of hours spent engaging in five different PAs. We conducted multiple imputation and used linear regression (n = 41,394), adjusting for five categories of covariates: demographics, sensory health characteristics, health behaviors, health status, and social determinants (sex/gender, education, income, social support, perceived social standing, race, and sexual orientation). RESULTS: In crude models, nearly every intensity and duration of PA was associated with better memory. In fully adjusted models, protective associations were attenuated; however, some associations held: all durations of walking, most durations of light activities, moderate activities for ≥1 hour, and strenuous activities for 1 to <2 hours. DISCUSSION: Some forms of PA may be associated with better memory. The benefits of higher intensity PA may only be realized after social determinants are addressed.

doi.org/10.1177/01640275211070001Open accessPubMed 35230196Populations