Peven, Jamie
(2021)
Physical activity and executive function in midlife.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Greater participation in physical activity (PA) is associated with better executive functioning (EF) and lower rates of cognitive impairment. Midlife may be a critical period when the risk for cognitive decline begins to be conferred, making health behaviors particularly important. It is likely that multiple parameters of PA (e.g., intensity, volume, pattern of activity) work in concert to improve cognitive functioning. However, few studies have evaluated these PA parameters as one PA index or parsed them into distinct features. Prior evidence suggests that age and/or sex may moderate PA-EF relationships, though these studies have almost exclusively investigated effects in older adults or children. The aims of the current study were to investigate whether PA modulated EF during midlife and to test the moderating effects of age and sex. Exploratory factor analyses derived two factors (moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA) from objectively monitored PA in 456 healthy midlife adults (mean age=43 years). Additional factor analyses derived an underlying EF factor and EF subdomain components (i.e., working memory, inhibitory control, abstraction, processing speed). Regression models controlling for relevant demographic and health characteristics explored the relationships between PA engagement and EF. Secondary analyses tested whether these relationships differed between using a PA factor or individual PA parameters as predictors of EF. Neither PA factor nor their interactions with age or sex were associated with the exploratory EF factor. Analyses focusing on the EF subdomains revealed that higher MVPA factor scores were associated with poorer inhibitory control. Separating the PA factors into individual parameters demonstrated that longer time spent in MVPA bouts and lower active energy expenditure were associated with better abstraction. There were no significant associations or interactions with age or sex on working memory or processing speed. Total PA was not related to EF or any EF subdomain. Taken together, achieving moderate intensity PA may uniquely contribute to EF during midlife. However, overall factor scores of PA and EF were not related in this sample. The unexpected negative and nonsignificant associations may be explained by a truncated range of PA or by unexplored physiological mechanisms that might mediate the PA-EF relationship.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
8 October 2021 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
17 July 2020 |
| Approval Date: |
8 October 2021 |
| Submission Date: |
3 November 2020 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
177 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
physical activity, executive function, midlife |
| Date Deposited: |
08 Oct 2021 17:55 |
| Last Modified: |
08 Oct 2021 17:55 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/39836 |
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