Medium-to-High Late-Life Physical Activity Is Associated with Lower Risk of Incident Dementia: The Shanghai Aging Study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wu, Wanqing^{a; b} | Ding, Ding^{a; b; *} | Zhao, Qianhua^{a; b} | Wang, Ruru^{c; d} | Liang, Xiaoniu^{a; b} | Xiao, Zhenxu^{a; b} | Luo, Jianfeng^{d; e} | Guo, Qihao^{a; b} | Hong, Zhen^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China | [b] National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China | [c] School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China | [d] Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China | [e] Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Ding Ding, Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Rd., Shanghai 200040, China. Tel.: +86 21 52888158; E-mail: dingding@huashan.org.cn.

Abstract: Background:There is significant evidence that physical activity has profound effects on the neurochemistry and plasticity of the brain and may prevent cognitive decline. Objective:This study aimed to determine the association between physical activity and incident dementia among older Chinese adults. Methods:In the prospective phase of the Shanghai Aging Study, 1,648 community-dwellers aged 60 years or older were followed for an average of 5 years. Their physical activity was assessed based on questionnaires. The physical activities were further transformed into metabolic equivalent values. A consensus diagnosis of incident dementia was ascertained based on medical, neurological, and neuropsychological data and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Results:We identified 166 incident dementia cases; the incidence rate was 19.4 per 1000 person-years. A multivariate Cox regression model indicated that compared to low levels of physical activity, medium-to-high levels of physical activity were associated with a reduced risk of dementia (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval = 0.62, 0.44–0.89) after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, apolipoprotein E ɛ4, and other confounders. Conclusion:Our findings demonstrate that medium-to-high level of physical activity is protective against dementia in older adults.

Keywords: Chinese, cognition, cohort studies, dementia, incidence, physical activity

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-190937

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 751-758, 2020