Physical Activity Since Childhood and its Association with Changes in Midlife Cognitive Functions: A Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study

PURPOSE: To examine whether cumulative physical activity (PA) in youth, adulthood, or from childhood to midlife is associated with cognitive changes in midlife. We further investigated whether cumulative PA in youth or adulthood was independently related to cognitive changes and whether these associations differed by sex. METHODS: This study utilized data ( n = 1353, 57% females) from the longitudinal, population-based cardiovascular risk in Young Finns Study, initiated in 1980. Cognitive functions (learning and memory, working memory, reaction time, and information processing) were evaluated using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in 2011 and 2018. PA was assessed with a standardized questionnaire in all study phases (1980-2018), with repeated measurements conducted at 3- to 9-yr intervals. Cumulative PA was determined for youth (ages 9-24), adulthood (ages 24-48), and life course (ages 9-48). Associations were analyzed using linear regression models with standardized variables, adjusted for age, education, cardiometabolic risk factors, health behaviors, and a polygenic risk score for cognitive function. Models of cumulative PA in youth and adulthood were additionally adjusted for each other. RESULTS: Higher life-course PA was associated with a smaller decrease in information processing in midlife (β = 0.08, P = 0.003; each unit increase in PA corresponded to a predicted 3-yr advantage in information processing). Moreover, higher life-course PA was associated with a smaller decrease in working memory among males (β = 0.09, P = 0.040; a predicted 2.7-yr advantage in working memory). Life-course PA was not associated with other cognitive functions. Youth PA showed no association with cognitive changes after adjusting for adulthood PA, and vice versa. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that individuals with higher life-course PA experience a smaller decrease in executive aspects of cognitive function during midlife.