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 - Ilyas Kamboh, M.
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.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85214424845
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85214424845#tab=citedBy
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
IS - 3
ER -