Abstract
Objectives
To determine the association between physical activity (PA) and subjective cognitive
complaints (SCCs), and the influential factors in this association.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting and Participants
Community-based data of the World Health Survey, which included 248,504 individuals
from 47 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), were analyzed [mean age = 38.6 (standard
deviation 16.1) years; 50.7% female].
Methods
PA was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants
were grouped into those who meet (high PA) the 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous
intensity PA per week recommendation, and those who do not (low PA). Two questions
on subjective memory and learning complaints in the past 30 days were used (scales
ranged from 1 to 5, with higher scores representing more severe SCC). Multivariable
ordinal logistic regression and mediation analyses were performed.
Results
Overall, after adjusting for sociodemographic and a wide range of behavioral, psychological,
and physical factors, low PA was associated with a higher risk for having more severe
subjective memory complaints [odds ratio (OR) = 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.23]
and learning complaints (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.12-1.26). Significant associations
were only observed among the middle-aged (45-64 years; learning complaints OR = 1.19,
95% CI = 1.06-1.33) and older populations (≥65 years; memory complaints OR = 1.31,
95% CI = 1.15-1.49, and learning complaints OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.24-1.60). Chronic
physical conditions, sleep problems, depression, and anxiety explained between 7.7%
and 29.4% of the PA-SCC association among those aged ≥45 years.
Conclusions and Implications
Low PA was associated with increased odds for more severe SCCs in middle-aged and
older adults in LMICs. Given the particularly rapid increase in dementia in LMICs,
more longitudinal research is warranted from this setting to understand the utility
of PA promotion in the prevention of cognitive impairment.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 03, 2020
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
