Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T15:52:59.972Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of social network on the physical activity—cognitive function nexus in late life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2018

Howard Litwin  and
Avital Shaul
Howard Litwin*
Affiliation:
Israel Gerontological Data Center, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus 91905, Jerusalem, Israel
Avital Shaul
Affiliation:
Israel Gerontological Data Center, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus 91905, Jerusalem, Israel
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Howard Litwin, Israel Gerontological Data Center, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus 91905, Jerusalem, Israel. Phone: +972-2-588-0303; Fax: +972-2-588-0306. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

To examine the contribution of vigorous physical activity to subsequent cognitive functioning, taking into account the effect of social network.

Methods:

The sample included respondents aged 65 years and older who participated in both the fourth and sixth waves of Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (n = 17,104). Cognitive functioning in Wave 6, measured as the average of standardized scores for recall, fluency, and numeracy, was regressed on the extent of vigorous physical activity, social network size, and several confounders in Wave 4 (including the corresponding cognition score at baseline). Interaction terms for physical activity and network size were also considered.

Results:

Moderate and high levels of vigorous physical activity, as well as social network size, were related to the cognition outcome after controlling for the confounders. Introduction of the interaction terms showed a direct and positive association of both moderate and high physical activity with the cognition outcome scores as social network size increased. However, among respondents in small- (0–1 members) and moderate-sized networks (2–3 members), greater physical activity was unrelated to the cognition score at follow-up. Only the interaction of high social connectedness (4–7 network members) and vigorous physical activity was significant.

Conclusions:

Vigorous physical activity is, indeed, related to subsequent cognitive functioning. However, the relationship is tempered by social network size. Therefore, interventions that increase both social connectedness and physical activity, especially among older people who are isolated and sedentary, are warranted.

Keywords

vigorous physical effortnetwork sizerecallfluencynumeracySHARE65+
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 31 , Issue 5: Issue Theme: Well-Being in Dementia , May 2019 , pp. 713 - 722
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Belley, A. M. et al. (2013). Ecological perspective on the determinants of cognitive health of seniors. Canadian Journal on Aging—Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 32, 240–249.Google Scholar
Booth, M. L., Owen, N., Bauman, A., Clavisi, O. and Leslie, E. (2000). Social-cognitive and perceived environment influences associated with physical activity in older Australians. Preventive Medicine, 31, 15–22.Google Scholar
Brewster, P. W. H. et al. (2014). Life experience and demographic influences on cognitive function in older adults. Neuropsychology, 28, 846–858.Google Scholar
Crooks, V. C., Lubben, J., Petitti, D. B., Little, D. and Chiu, V. (2008). Social network, cognitive function, and dementia incidence among elderly women. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 1221–1227.Google Scholar
Depp, C., Vahia, I. V. and Jeste, D. (2010). Successful aging: focus on cognitive and emotional health. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6, 527–550.Google Scholar
Dodge, H. H., Ybarra, O. and Kaye, J. A. (2014). Tools for advancing research into social networks and cognitive function in older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 26, 533–539.Google Scholar
Fisher, K. J., Li, F. Z., Michael, Y. and Cleveland, M. (2004). Neighborhood-level influences on physical activity among older adults: a multilevel analysis. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 12, 45–63.Google Scholar
Fratiglioni, L., Paillard-Borg, S. and Winblad, B. (2004). An active and socially integrated lifestyle in late life might protect against dementia. Lancet Neurology, 3, 343–353.Google Scholar
Fratiglioni, L. and Wang, H. X. (2007). Brain reserve hypothesis in dementia. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 12, 11–22.Google Scholar
Holtzman, R. E., Rebok, G. W., Saczynski, J. S., Kouzis, A. C., Doyle, K. W. and Eaton, W. W. (2004). Social network characteristics and cognition in middle-aged and older adults. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 59, P278–P284.Google Scholar
Jedrziewski, M. K., Ewbank, D. C., Wang, H. D. and Trojanowski, J. Q. (2014). The impact of exercise, cognitive activities, and socialization on cognitive function: results from the national long-term care survey. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 29, 372–378.Google Scholar
Jelicic, M. and Kempen, G. (1999). Effect of self-rated health on cognitive performance in community dwelling elderly. Educational Gerontology, 25, 13–17.Google Scholar
Jeste, D. V., Depp, C. A. and Vahia, I. V. (2010). Successful cognitive and emotional aging. World Psychiatry, 9, 78–84.Google Scholar
Kareholt, I. (2012). Age and sex differences in the relation between education and physical and cognitive functioning among men and women aged 76 years and older. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 19, S224–S224.Google Scholar
Karlamangla, A. S., Miller-Martinez, D., Aneshensel, C. S., Seeman, T. E., Wight, R. G. and Chodosh, J. (2009). Trajectories of cognitive function in late life in the United States: demographic and socioeconomic predictors. American Journal of Epidemiology, 170, 331–342.Google Scholar
Kawachi, I. and Berkman, L. F. (2001). Social ties and mental health. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 78, 458–467.Google Scholar
Kilander, L., Nyman, H., Boberg, M. and Lithell, H. (2000). The association between low diastolic blood pressure in middle age and cognitive function in old age. A population-based study. Age and Ageing, 29, 243–248.Google Scholar
Krueger, K. R., Wilson, R. S., Kamenetsky, J. M., Barnes, L. L., Bienias, J. L. and Bennett, D. A. (2009). Social engagement and cognitive function in old age. Experimental Aging Research, 35, 45–60.Google Scholar
Kuiper, J. S., Voshaar, R. C. O., Zuidema, S. U., Stolk, R. P., Zuidersma, M. and Smidt, N. (2017). The relationship between social functioning and subjective memory complaints in older persons: a population-based longitudinal cohort study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32, 1059–1071.Google Scholar
Lee, J., Shih, R., Feeney, K. and Langa, K. M. (2014). Gender disparity in late-life cognitive functioning in India: findings from the longitudinal aging study in India. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 69, 603–611.Google Scholar
Litwin, H. (2012). Physical activity, social network type, and depressive symptoms in late life: an analysis of data from the national social life, health and aging project. Aging & Mental Health, 16, 608–616.Google Scholar
Litwin, H., Schwartz, E. and Damri, N. (2017). Cognitively stimulating leisure activity and subsequent cognitive function: a SHARE-based analysis. The Gerontologist, 57, 940–948.Google Scholar
Maurer, J. (2011). Education and male-female differences in later-life cognition: international evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean. Demography, 48, 915–930.Google Scholar
McNeill, L. H., Kreuter, M. W. and Subramanian, S. V. (2006). Social environment and physical activity: a review of concepts and evidence. Social Science & Medicine, 63, 1011–1022.Google Scholar
Nguyen, C. T., Couture, M. C., Alvarado, B. E. and Zunzunegui, M. V. (2008). Life course socioeconomic disadvantage and cognitive function among the elderly population of seven capitals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journal of Aging and Health, 20, 347–362.Google Scholar
Plassman, B. L., Williams, J. W., Burke, J. R., Holsinger, T. and Benjamin, S. (2010). Systematic review: factors associated with risk for and possible prevention of cognitive decline in later life. Annals of Internal Medicine, 153, 182–193.Google Scholar
Rajan, K. B., Hebert, L. E., Scherr, P. A., de Leon, C. F. M. and Evans, D. A. (2013). Disability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living is associated with faster rate of decline in cognitive function of older adults. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 68, 624–630.Google Scholar
Rowe, J. W. and Kahn, R. L. (1987). Human aging – usual and successful. Science, 237, 143–149.Google Scholar
Rowe, J. W. and Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. Gerontologist, 37, 433–440.Google Scholar
Santini, Z. I. et al. (2017). The protective properties of Act-Belong-Commit indicators against incident depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment among older Irish adults: findings from a prospective community-based study. Experimental Gerontology, 91, 79–87.Google Scholar
Schneider, M. G. (2004). The intersection of mental and physical health in older Mexican Americans. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 26, 333–355.Google Scholar
Sloan, F. A. and Wang, J. S. (2005). Disparities among older adults in measures of cognitive function by race or ethnicity. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60, P242–P250.Google Scholar
Sorman, D. E., Ronnlund, M., Sundstrom, A., Norberg, M. and Nilsson, L. G. (2017). Social network size and cognitive functioning in middle-aged adults: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations. Journal of Adult Development, 24, 77–88.Google Scholar
Stephens, C., Spicer, J., Budge, C., Stevenson, B. and Alpass, F. (2015). Accounting for differences in cognitive health between older adults in New Zealand and the USA. International Psychogeriatrics, 27, 591–600.Google Scholar
Vance, D. E., Wadley, V. G., Ball, K. K., Roenker, D. L. and Rizzo, M. (2005). The effects of physical activity and sedentary behavior on cognitive health in older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 13, 294–313.Google Scholar
Wang, H. X. et al. (2013). Late life leisure activities and risk of cognitive decline. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 68, 205–213.Google Scholar
Whitley, E., Deary, I. J., Ritchie, S. J., Batty, G. D., Kumari, M. and Benzeval, M. (2016). Variations in cognitive abilities across the life course: cross-sectional evidence from Understanding Society: the UK household longitudinal study. Intelligence, 59, 39–50.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Litwin and Shaul supplementary material 1

Supplementary Table

Download Litwin and Shaul supplementary material 1(File)
File 33.9 KB