Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood: Baseline findings from the IGNITE study

Lauren E. Oberlin; Lu Wan; Chaeryon Kang; Allison Romano; Sarah Aghjayan; Alina Lesnovskaya; Hayley S. Ripperger; Jermon Drake; Rae Harrison; Audrey M. Collins; Cristina Molina-Hidalgo; George Grove; Haiqing Huang; Arthur Kramer; Charles H. Hillman; Jeffrey M. Burns; Eric D. Vidoni; Edward McAuley; M. Ilyas Kamboh; John M. Jakicic; Kirk I. Erickson

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257

Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood: Baseline findings from the IGNITE study

Lauren E. Oberlin, Lu Wan, Chaeryon Kang, Allison Romano, Sarah Aghjayan, Alina Lesnovskaya, Hayley S. Ripperger, Jermon Drake, Rae Harrison, Audrey M. Collins, Cristina Molina-Hidalgo, George Grove, Haiqing Huang, Arthur Kramer, Charles H. Hillman, Jeffrey M. Burns, Eric D. Vidoni, Edward McAuley, M. Ilyas Kamboh, John M. JakicicKirk I. Erickson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognition in a large sample of older adults, and to examine clinical and demographic factors that might moderate these associations. Methods: CRF was measured with a graded exercise test performed on a motorised treadmill. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using data from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to obtain latent factors reflecting core cognitive domains. Linear regression models evaluated the association between CRF and each of the cognitive composites, and potential moderators including demographic factors (age, sex, education), apolipoprotein E ϵ4 (APOE4) carriage, beta-blocker use and components of maximal effort criteria during CRF testing. Results: The sample consisted of 648 adults (mean (SD) age 69.88 (3.75)), including 461 women (71.1%). The highest oxygen consumption obtained during testing (VO2max) was mean (SD) = 21.68 (5.06) mL/kg/min. We derived a five-factor model composed of episodic memory, processing speed, working memory, executive function/attentional control and visuospatial function. Higher CRF was associated with better performance across all five cognitive domains after controlling for covariates. Age and APOE4 carriage did not moderate observed associations. The relationship between CRF and cognitive performance was greater in women, those with fewer years of education and those taking beta-blockers in the domains of processing speed (sex: β=-0.447; p=0.015; education: β=-0.863; p=0.018) and executive function/attentional control (sex: β=-0.417; p=0.022; education β=-0.759; p=0.034; beta-blocker use: β=0.305; p=0.047). Conclusion: Higher CRF in older adulthood is associated with better cognitive performance across multiple domains susceptible to age-related cognitive decline. Sex, education and use of beta-blockers moderated observed associations within select cognitive domains.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	167-176
Journal	British Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume	59
Early online date	Dec 10 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257
State	Published - Feb 3 2025

Keywords

Aging
Neurology
Physical fitness
Preventive Medicine
Public health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257License: CC BY

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Oberlin, L. E., Wan, L., Kang, C., Romano, A., Aghjayan, S., Lesnovskaya, A., Ripperger, H. S., Drake, J., Harrison, R., Collins, A. M., Molina-Hidalgo, C., Grove, G., Huang, H., Kramer, A., Hillman, C. H., Burns, J. M., Vidoni, E. D., McAuley, E., Kamboh, M. I., ... Erickson, K. I. (2025). Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood: Baseline findings from the IGNITE study. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 59, 167-176. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257

Oberlin, LE, Wan, L, Kang, C, Romano, A, Aghjayan, S, Lesnovskaya, A, Ripperger, HS, Drake, J, Harrison, R, Collins, AM, Molina-Hidalgo, C, Grove, G, Huang, H, Kramer, A, Hillman, CH, Burns, JM, Vidoni, ED, McAuley, E, Kamboh, MI, Jakicic, JM & Erickson, KI 2025, 'Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood: Baseline findings from the IGNITE study', British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 59, pp. 167-176. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257

@article{678c371abd904f769778dec77efc5346,

title = "Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood: Baseline findings from the IGNITE study",

abstract = "Objectives: To evaluate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognition in a large sample of older adults, and to examine clinical and demographic factors that might moderate these associations. Methods: CRF was measured with a graded exercise test performed on a motorised treadmill. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using data from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to obtain latent factors reflecting core cognitive domains. Linear regression models evaluated the association between CRF and each of the cognitive composites, and potential moderators including demographic factors (age, sex, education), apolipoprotein E ϵ4 (APOE4) carriage, beta-blocker use and components of maximal effort criteria during CRF testing. Results: The sample consisted of 648 adults (mean (SD) age 69.88 (3.75)), including 461 women (71.1%). The highest oxygen consumption obtained during testing (VO2max) was mean (SD) = 21.68 (5.06) mL/kg/min. We derived a five-factor model composed of episodic memory, processing speed, working memory, executive function/attentional control and visuospatial function. Higher CRF was associated with better performance across all five cognitive domains after controlling for covariates. Age and APOE4 carriage did not moderate observed associations. The relationship between CRF and cognitive performance was greater in women, those with fewer years of education and those taking beta-blockers in the domains of processing speed (sex: β=-0.447; p=0.015; education: β=-0.863; p=0.018) and executive function/attentional control (sex: β=-0.417; p=0.022; education β=-0.759; p=0.034; beta-blocker use: β=0.305; p=0.047). Conclusion: Higher CRF in older adulthood is associated with better cognitive performance across multiple domains susceptible to age-related cognitive decline. Sex, education and use of beta-blockers moderated observed associations within select cognitive domains.",

keywords = "Aging, Neurology, Physical fitness, Preventive Medicine, Public health",

author = "Oberlin, {Lauren E.} and Lu Wan and Chaeryon Kang and Allison Romano and Sarah Aghjayan and Alina Lesnovskaya and Ripperger, {Hayley S.} and Jermon Drake and Rae Harrison and Collins, {Audrey M.} and Cristina Molina-Hidalgo and George Grove and Haiqing Huang and Arthur Kramer and Hillman, {Charles H.} and Burns, {Jeffrey M.} and Vidoni, {Eric D.} and Edward McAuley and Kamboh, {M. Ilyas} and Jakicic, {John M.} and Erickson, {Kirk I.}",

note = "The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. KIE consults for MedRhythms, Inc., and Neo Auvra, Inc. JMJ is on the Scientific Advisory Board for Wondr Health, Inc., and was the site principal investigator for a research study supported by Epitomee Medical, Inc., awarded to the University of Kansas Medical Center. This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (R01 AG053952) awarded to KIE, JB, AK, EMcA and to KIE (R35 AG072307).",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "59",

pages = "167--176",

journal = "British Journal of Sports Medicine",

issn = "0306-3674",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood

T2 - Baseline findings from the IGNITE study

AU - Oberlin, Lauren E.

AU - Wan, Lu

AU - Kang, Chaeryon

AU - Romano, Allison

AU - Aghjayan, Sarah

AU - Lesnovskaya, Alina

AU - Ripperger, Hayley S.

AU - Drake, Jermon

AU - Harrison, Rae

AU - Collins, Audrey M.

AU - Molina-Hidalgo, Cristina

AU - Grove, George

AU - Huang, Haiqing

AU - Kramer, Arthur

AU - Hillman, Charles H.

AU - Burns, Jeffrey M.

AU - Vidoni, Eric D.

AU - McAuley, Edward

AU - Kamboh, M. Ilyas

AU - Jakicic, John M.

AU - Erickson, Kirk I.

N1 - The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. KIE consults for MedRhythms, Inc., and Neo Auvra, Inc. JMJ is on the Scientific Advisory Board for Wondr Health, Inc., and was the site principal investigator for a research study supported by Epitomee Medical, Inc., awarded to the University of Kansas Medical Center. This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (R01 AG053952) awarded to KIE, JB, AK, EMcA and to KIE (R35 AG072307).

PY - 2025/2/3

Y1 - 2025/2/3

N2 - Objectives: To evaluate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognition in a large sample of older adults, and to examine clinical and demographic factors that might moderate these associations. Methods: CRF was measured with a graded exercise test performed on a motorised treadmill. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using data from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to obtain latent factors reflecting core cognitive domains. Linear regression models evaluated the association between CRF and each of the cognitive composites, and potential moderators including demographic factors (age, sex, education), apolipoprotein E ϵ4 (APOE4) carriage, beta-blocker use and components of maximal effort criteria during CRF testing. Results: The sample consisted of 648 adults (mean (SD) age 69.88 (3.75)), including 461 women (71.1%). The highest oxygen consumption obtained during testing (VO2max) was mean (SD) = 21.68 (5.06) mL/kg/min. We derived a five-factor model composed of episodic memory, processing speed, working memory, executive function/attentional control and visuospatial function. Higher CRF was associated with better performance across all five cognitive domains after controlling for covariates. Age and APOE4 carriage did not moderate observed associations. The relationship between CRF and cognitive performance was greater in women, those with fewer years of education and those taking beta-blockers in the domains of processing speed (sex: β=-0.447; p=0.015; education: β=-0.863; p=0.018) and executive function/attentional control (sex: β=-0.417; p=0.022; education β=-0.759; p=0.034; beta-blocker use: β=0.305; p=0.047). Conclusion: Higher CRF in older adulthood is associated with better cognitive performance across multiple domains susceptible to age-related cognitive decline. Sex, education and use of beta-blockers moderated observed associations within select cognitive domains.

AB - Objectives: To evaluate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognition in a large sample of older adults, and to examine clinical and demographic factors that might moderate these associations. Methods: CRF was measured with a graded exercise test performed on a motorised treadmill. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using data from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to obtain latent factors reflecting core cognitive domains. Linear regression models evaluated the association between CRF and each of the cognitive composites, and potential moderators including demographic factors (age, sex, education), apolipoprotein E ϵ4 (APOE4) carriage, beta-blocker use and components of maximal effort criteria during CRF testing. Results: The sample consisted of 648 adults (mean (SD) age 69.88 (3.75)), including 461 women (71.1%). The highest oxygen consumption obtained during testing (VO2max) was mean (SD) = 21.68 (5.06) mL/kg/min. We derived a five-factor model composed of episodic memory, processing speed, working memory, executive function/attentional control and visuospatial function. Higher CRF was associated with better performance across all five cognitive domains after controlling for covariates. Age and APOE4 carriage did not moderate observed associations. The relationship between CRF and cognitive performance was greater in women, those with fewer years of education and those taking beta-blockers in the domains of processing speed (sex: β=-0.447; p=0.015; education: β=-0.863; p=0.018) and executive function/attentional control (sex: β=-0.417; p=0.022; education β=-0.759; p=0.034; beta-blocker use: β=0.305; p=0.047). Conclusion: Higher CRF in older adulthood is associated with better cognitive performance across multiple domains susceptible to age-related cognitive decline. Sex, education and use of beta-blockers moderated observed associations within select cognitive domains.

KW - Aging

KW - Neurology

KW - Physical fitness

KW - Preventive Medicine

KW - Public health

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U2 - 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257

DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108257

M3 - Article

C2 - 39658276

AN - SCOPUS:85214424845

SN - 0306-3674

VL - 59

SP - 167

EP - 176

JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine

ER -

Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood: Baseline findings from the IGNITE study

Abstract

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