Epidemiological investigation of muscle-strengthening activities and cognitive function among older adults

Abstract

Limited research has examined the association of muscle-strengthening activities and executive cognitive function among older adults, which was this study’s purpose. Data from the 1999–2002 NHANES were employed (N = 2157; 60–85 years). Muscle-strengthening activities were assessed via self-report, with cognitive function assessed using the digit symbol substitution test. After adjusting for age, age-squared, gender, race-ethnicity, poverty level, body mass index, C-reactive protein, smoking, comorbid illness and physical activity, muscle-strengthening activities were significantly associated with cognitive function (β_adjusted = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.7–5.1; P < 0.001). Compared to those not engaging in aerobic exercise and not meeting muscle-strengthening activity guidelines, those doing 1 (β_adjusted = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.9–5.4; P < 0.001) and both (β_adjusted = 6.6; 95% CI: 4.8–8.3; P < 0.001) of these behaviors had a significantly higher executive cognitive function score. In conclusion, muscle-strengthening activities are associated with executive cognitive function among older U.S. adults, underscoring the importance of promoting both aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activities to older adults.