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Association between physical fitness and executive functions in cognitively healthy female older adults: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Cardiovascular endurance and muscular fitness seem to impact specific cognitive components in older females. However, it remains uncertain whether these relate to executive functions or if these correlations are limited to specific physical fitness indicators. This study aimed to determine the association between specific physical fitness components and executive functions in community-dwelling older females. Thirty-five cognitively healthy community-dwelling older females (71.5 ± 5.7 years) underwent a series of physical fitness tests. These included the handgrip strength test (HGT), the 6-min walk test (6MWT), the 8-foot up-and-go test (8FUGT), and the chair stand test (CST). Participants also completed trail A and trail B of the cognitive trail making test. Results showed that trail B reaction time had a negative association with both HGT (r =  − 0.502; p = 0.002) and 6MWT (r =  − 0.543; p < 0.001). Together, the HGT and 6MWT results explained 39% of the variation in trail B reaction times: HGT accounted for 18% and 6MWT for 21%. Better scores on the 6MWT and HGT—but not on the 8FUGT and CST—correlated with enhanced executive function in cognitively healthy community-dwelling older females. The results of this study underscore the importance of specific physical assessments, like the 6MWT and HGT, as potential indicators of executive function, offering targeted strategies for maintaining cognitive health in aging females.

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Data availability

Data from this study is available on reasonable request to said.mekari@usherbrooke.ca.

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Acknowledgements

We are immensely grateful to the older females in Memramcook, NB, who participated in our study, lending their time and insights to profoundly shape our research. Their willingness to contribute is a testament to the vibrant spirit and collaborative nature of Memramcook’s senior community. Our heartfelt thanks go out to each participant, as well as to the local organizations who supported their involvement. This study would not have been possible without your enthusiastic and generous collaboration.

Funding

This project was supported by a CIHR Catalyst Grant—Official Language Minority Communities in Health Research (#472388).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

    Shirko Ahmadi, Isadora Quirion, Pierre Philippe Wilson Registe, Mathieu Bélanger & Said Mekari

  2. Centre de Formation Médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, Université de Sherbrooke, Moncton, Canada

    Shirko Ahmadi, Isadora Quirion, Pierre Faivre, Pierre Philippe Wilson Registe, Mathieu Bélanger & Said Mekari

  3. Laboratory MOVE (EA 6314), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France

    Pierre Faivre & Olivier Dupuy

  4. School of Physiotherapy (Faculty of Health) and Department of Medicine (Faculty of Medicine), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Myles W. O’Brien

  5. Geriatric Medicine Research, Dalhousie University & Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Myles W. O’Brien

  6. Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s City, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

    Nick W. Bray

  7. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    Martin Sénéchal

  8. Cardiometabolic Exercise & Lifestyle Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    Martin Sénéchal

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  1. Shirko Ahmadi
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Ahmadi, S., Quirion, I., Faivre, P. et al. Association between physical fitness and executive functions in cognitively healthy female older adults: a cross-sectional study. GeroScience (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01188-y

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