Vasquez E, et al. – This study was undertaken to examine the cross–sectional link between accelerometer evaluated moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SED) with cognitive function in adults aged 45–74 years from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Findings were indicative of a distinct association of SED but not MVPA on executive functioning in middle–aged and older Latino adults.

Methods

• Researchers evaluated the cross-sectional link between accelerometer assessed MVPA and SED with cognitive function in 7,478 adults aged 45–74 years from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.
• At baseline, cognitive tests included two executive function tests (Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), a test of language (Word Fluency), and a test of memory (Spanish English Verbal Learning Test).
• They also used multiple regression models to assess associations of time spent in MVPA and SED with cognitive function by age groups, adjusted for age, education, sex, acculturation, and field center.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that the mean time spent in sedentary behaviors was 12.3 h/day in females and 11.9 h/day in males (75% and 77% of accelerometer wear time, respectively).
• Researchers observed that higher SED, but not MVPA, was associated with lower DSST raw scores (β - 0.03 with each 10-min increment in SED; P < 0.05), suggesting lower performance in executive function in all age groups.
• In addition, data revealed no associations for MVPA and SED with tests of language or memory tests.