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Abstract
Objective
To test the hypothesis that aerobic-related leisure-time physical activity (PA) is associated with better cognitive function and that the effect varies among apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype groups.
Design
Cross-sectional study of persons examined in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III; 1988–1994).
Setting
US noninstitutionalized population.
Participants and methods
From a sample of 7159, aged ≥60 years, we analyzed data for 1799 older American men and women who had information on PA, a short mental status examination (SMSE), and were genotyped at the apolipoprotein E gene locus.
Results
In the initial bivariate analysis, non-ɛ4 carriers and ɛ4-heterozygotes performed better than ɛ4-homozygotes in the 60–69 age group. After controlling for multiple confounders including mobility limitation, PA correlated with a higher SMSE score in non-ɛ4 carriers (P = 0.014), but not in ɛ4 carriers (P = 0.887). At ≥70 years, PA also correlated with higher adjusted SMSE scores in non-ɛ4 carriers (P = 0.02); but this association became nonsignificant after controlling for mobility limitation (P = 0.12).
Conclusion
In a nationally representative sample, PA was associated with enhanced cognition, an effect that was differentially influenced by apolipoprotein E genotype. Experimental studies are needed to determine whether or not PA can attenuate cognitive decline.
Acknowledgments
Thomas Obisesan and Richard Gillum participated in the conceptualization, data analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation. Nisser Umar and Nivedh Paluvoi participated in the interpretation and manuscript preparation. Biostatistician support was provided by Dr John Kwagyan of Howard University General Clinical Research Center.
Disclosure
This work is supported by K23 AG00980 (TOO), RO1 AG031517-01A2, RR10284 (HU), and AG02213 (RCG). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health or the National Center for Health Statistics.