Relationship between Physical Activity and Age on the Main Categories of Cognitive Processes

Alexandra Perrot (1) , Pauline Maillot (1) , Christine Gagnon (2) , Jean Bertsch (1)

1 CIAMS - Complexité, Innovation, Activités Motrices et Sportives
2 LESCA - Laboratoire d'Étude de la Santé Cognitive des Ainés [Montréal]

Many transversal studies show a positive relationship between physical activity and a large panel of cognitive functions. However, the majority of studies in this domain separately investigated categories of cognitive functions (e.g., attention, executive functions, visuospatial abilities). Studies simultaneously addressing the main categories of cognitive functions are rare. Moreover, assessment methods to measure physical activity are diverse (i.e., direct method with VO2max or indirect method with questionnaires). The purpose of this study was to summarize the relationship between physical activity and performances on a large panel of psychometric tests assessing the main categories of cognitive processes (i.e., based on the broad level of the three stratum model of human cognitive abilities, developed by Carroll in 1993). Thirteen active and thirteen inactive men and women aged between 60 and 70 years old were recruited from the community to participate in this study. Measures obtained included self-reports about health status and educational level, an estimate of the VO2max (Rockport 1-Mile Walk Test), indirect estimate of physical activity (the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire) and several categories of psychometrics tests. Categories used were fluid intelligence (Matrix Reasoning test), crystallized intelligence (Similarities), general memory and learning (Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing), visual perception (Cancellation test), retrieval ability (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), processing speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Number Comparison Test, Directional Heading Test), psychomotor speed (Reaction and Movement Time tests) and psychomotor abilities (Pegboard test). One-Way Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) were conducted, with performance scores obtained on each cognitive tests as the dependent variable, and amount of physical activity (active vs. inactive) as the independent variable. Results revealed that active older adults perform better than inactive older adults in the large panel of psychometric tests measuring several cognitive abilities, with significant effects observed for fluid intelligence, broad visual perception, broad cognitive speediness, psychomotor abilities and psychomotor speed. Results also revealed medium effect size for crystallized intelligence and general memory and learning. This research provides further support that regular physical activity may offer a protective buffer against the cognitive declines associated with aging. However, as this study employed a cross-sectional design, only precautious conclusions can be drawn from the current findings. Future intervention studies should examine whether the beneficial effect of an active physical lifestyle on cognition is a causal one. Training interventions with participants randomly assigned to aerobic training and control groups would increase the heuristic value of this research.

Domaines: Psychologie

Alexandra Perrot, Pauline Maillot, Christine Gagnon, Jean Bertsch. Relationship between Physical Activity and Age on the Main Categories of Cognitive Processes. NOVA Science Publishers. Handbook of Cognitive Aging: Causes, Processes and Effects, Q. Gariepy & R. Menard, pp.419-432, 2011, NOVA Science Publishers. ⟨hal-00736997⟩