Impacts of physical activity on cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.31e0460Keywords:
Aged, Middle aged, Exercise, Cognition, COVID-19 pandemicAbstract
Introduction: Physical activity (PA) contributes to the prevention of cognitive impairment. Social isolation measures, such as those adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, may negatively affect PA levels. Objective: To assess the longitudinal impacts of PA on cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A longitudinal, quantitative study was conducted in 2018/2019 (T1), 2021 (T2), and 2023 (T3), involving 300 individuals aged 45 years and older, registered at Health Units in Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, short version, was administered at all three assessments, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered at T3. Statistical analyses included logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, and education, as well as ANOVA. Results: At T3, most participants were female (65.7%), with a mean age of 65.2 years, 5.7 years of schooling, and 16.7% had cognitive impairment. Participants who were physically inactive at T1 (OR = 2.76; IC 95%: 1,34 – 5,72) and T2 (OR = 3.47; IC 95%: 1,31 - 9,21) had a significantly higher risk of cognitive impairment at T3. The greater the number of times a participant was classified as active across assessments (0–3), the lower the likelihood of cognitive impairment (OR = 0.52; IC 95%: 0,34 - 0,80). Being active in at least one assessment positively influenced MMSE scores compared to being inactive in all assessments. Conclusion: Physical inactivity increased the risk of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults. Encouraging and promoting PA in this population is essential to minimize the impacts of aging on cognition.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alexandre Martins Barbosa, Rafael Theodoro Serpa, Grace Angélica de Oliveira Gomes, Bruna Moretti Luchesi, Tatiana Carvalho Reis Martins, Marcelo Kwiatkoski
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