A-52: Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Mid-Life Predict Executive Functioning in Later Life?

Abstract

Objective: Previous research shows cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is positively associated with cognition. To date, studies are largely cross-sectional or examine short-term changes in cognition that follow exercise-induced improvements in CRF, making it difficult to determine the longer-term relationship between CRF and cognitive aging. Accordingly, the current study examined longitudinal relationships between CRF and changes in executive functioning from mid-to-later life. Method/Data Selection: Participants from the Adult Health and Behavior (AHAB) study (N=706, 54% female) provided biological measures and completed neuropsychological testing and self-report questionnaires at two timepoints (Mean age: Wave1 = 45; Wave2 = 59). CRF was estimated separately for males and females using a validated algorithm that included age, BMI, unpaced heart rate, waist circumference, physical activity, and smoking status (Artero et al., 2014). Executive function was measured using the Stroop Color/Word Test, which assesses cognitive flexibility, selective attention, and inhibition. Longitudinal models examined change in age-standardized T-scores on the Stroop Test over a ~14-year follow-up (range: 7-22). Results/Data Synthesis: Cross-sectional analyses showed a positive association between CRF and performance on the Stroop Test for males (ß= 1.34, SE = 0.51, p = .008) and females (ß = 1.36, SE = 0.50, p = .007). Longitudinal analyses, controlling for time-to-follow-up and Wave 1 Stroop Test scores, showed that higher CRF at Wave 1 predicted better Stroop Test performance at Wave 2, only for females (ß = 1.15, SE = 0.34, p = .001). Conclusions: Our study extends existing literature by examining longitudinal associations of CRF with executive functioning from mid-to-later life. Results suggest that CRF in mid-life prospectively predicts retention of executive function over ~14 years among females, but not males. Midlife CRF could be an intervention target to slow cognitive aging in women.