Correlates of physical activity levels, muscle strength, working memory, and cognitive function in older adults

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between physical activity level, muscle strength, working memory and cognitive function in older adults.MethodsA cross-sectional research design was employed to recruit 120 older adults individuals aged 70 and above. Participants were asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale. Data on variables such as grip strength and performance on the N-back task were collected. Data analysis involved the use of independent samples t-tests, χ2 tests, linear regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe detection rate of cognitive dysfunction in older adults was 53.211%; 1-back correct rate had an explanatory power of 11.6% for the cognitive function scores of older adults (R2 = 0.116, p < 0.001); grip strength showed a significant positive correlation with 1-back correct rate (r = 0.417, p < 0.001), and was significantly correlated with the 0-back response time (r = −0.478), 1 -back response time (r = −0.441) were significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.001); physical activity level was significantly positively correlated with grip strength (r = 0.559, p < 0.001), and the difference in grip strength among older adults with different physical activity levels was statistically significant (F = 19.685, p < 0.001).ConclusionPhysical activity level, muscle strength, working memory, and cognitive function are closely related in older adults, and the relational pathway of physical activity → muscle strength → working memory → cognitive function may serve as a useful addition to promote the field of cognitive research in older adults. To identify and prevent cognitive decline in older adults, physical activity questionnaires, grip strength tests, and 1-back task tests can be extended to nursing homes and communities.