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Arterial stiffness and physical fitness on cognitive function in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults

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Abstract

Purpose

This study examined whether decline in cognitive function is related to arterial stiffness and reduction in physical fitness in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods

A total of 1554 healthy middle-aged and older adults participated in this study. The trail making test parts-A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), grip strength, the 30-s chair stand (CS-30) test, the 6-min walk (6MW) test, the 8-foot up-and-go (8UG) test and gait assessment were performed. Participants were classified into a middle-aged group (40–64 years; mean, 50.4 ± 0.2 years) or an older group (≥ 65 years; mean, 73.1 ± 0.5 years), as well as into three cognition (COG) groups (high, moderate, and low) based on median TMT-A and -B scores (high scores on both, either, or neither TMT-A and -B, respectively).

Results

The results revealed that baPWV was significantly lower in the high-than in the moderate- and low-COG groups in both middle-aged and older adults (P < 0.05). In addition, except for a few parameters (e.g., 6MW test in middle-aged adults), physical fitness was significantly higher in the high-than in the moderate- and low-COG groups in both middle-aged and older adults (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that baPWV (P < 0.05) and some physical fitness indicators (grip strength, CS-30, and 8UG) were significantly independently associated with both TMT-A and -B in the middle-aged and older groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

These results suggest that increased arterial stiffness and reduced physical fitness are associated with impaired cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank participants and all measurement staff at Nippon Sport Science University for physical fitness test.

Funding

There are no funding sources for the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MORITA MFG. CORP, Kyoto, Japan

    Soichiro Nihei

  2. Research Institute of Sports Science, Nippon Sport Science University, 7-1-1, Fukasawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 158-8508, Japan

    Madoka Ogawa, Yuto Hashimoto, Naoki Kikuchi, Koichi Nakazato & Takanobu Okamoto

  3. Department of Sport Science and Research, Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan

    Madoka Ogawa

Authors
  1. Soichiro Nihei
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Correspondence to Takanobu Okamoto.

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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Nippon Sport Science University (017-H075).

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Nihei, S., Ogawa, M., Hashimoto, Y. et al. Arterial stiffness and physical fitness on cognitive function in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 35, 1845–1854 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02470-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02470-3

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