ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the estimated effects of substituting 30 min of sedentary time with low-light physical activity (LLPA) and high-light physical activity (HLPA) on episodic memory, executive functioning, and working memory among middle-aged and older Latinos. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Chicago and Chicagoland suburbs. SUBJECTS: Middle-aged and older Latinos (n = 61). MEASURES: Accelerometer-assessed physical activity. A cognitive battery was administered to assess episodic memory, executive function, and working memory. ANALYSIS: Isotemporal substitution analyses were conducted, where unstandardized coefficients from linear regression models were used to examine the substitution effect of replacing sedentary time with LLPA and HLPA. RESULTS: Substitution of sedentary time with LLPA was associated with better episodic memory (Immediate recall, B = .947, P = .008; Delayed recall, B = .857, P = .013). No other significant substitution effects were present. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged and older Latinos who replace sedentary time with LLPA may have better episodic memory. Future studies may target light physical activity to address cognition disparities and can inform the development of physical activity interventions that are appealing and accessible for Latinos.
Subject(s)
Hispanic or Latino , Memory, Episodic , Sedentary Behavior , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Female , Sedentary Behavior/ethnology , Hispanic or Latino/psychology , Hispanic or Latino/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional Studies , Aged , Chicago , Exercise/psychology , Executive Function , Accelerometry , Memory, Short-Term , Motor Activity , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Self-rated health (SRH) has been used to predict cognitive decline in various populations; however, this relationship has not been examined in Latinos. This study examines the relationship between SRH and cognition among middle-aged and older Latinos. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among Latinos (n = 425, Mage = 64.13 ± 7.65, 82% female). Participants rated their health as poor/fair, good, and excellent and completed cognitive performance tests. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) examined differences in cognition between SRH categories. ANCOVAs showed significant differences in SRH categories for working memory (F [2, 357] = 3.63, p = .028) and global cognition (F [2, 348] = 3.074, p = .047), such that those who self-rated their health as good had better scores compared to participants in the poor/fair category. Findings show that SRH is associated with cognition among middle-aged and older Latinos. SRH may serve as an indicator of early signs of cognitive decline.
