Associations Between Different Dimensions Of Physical Activity And Cognition, Depression In Middle-aged And Elderly Chinese

PURPOSE: To investigate the associations between different dimensions (intensity, frequency, duration, volume) of physical activity (PA) and cognitive function, depression in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. METHODS: This study included 3270 individuals from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2018. PA was divided into vigorous PA (VPA), moderate PA (MPA), and light PA (LPA). After adjustment for sex, age, BMI, educational status, marital status, smoking and drinking by multiple linear regression models, the associations between different dimensions of physical activity and cognitive function, depression were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with taking no PA, MPA with a frequency of 3-7 d/w, duration of 10-119 min/d, volume of ≥300 min/w had higher cognitive function scores in individuals, among which those with a frequency of 3-5 d/w, duration of 10-29 min/d, volume of 10-149 min/w had the highest scores (β = 1.16, 95%CI: 0.08, 2.23; β = 1.76, 95%CI: 0.43, 3.08; (β = 1.73, 95%CI: 0.50, 2.94). While VPA with a frequency of 3-5 d/w, 6-7 d/w, duration of ≥240 min/d, volume of ≥300 min/w had lower cognitive function scores (β = -2.33, 95%CI: -3.55, -1.12, β = -2.10, 95%CI: -2.94, -1.26; β = -3.07, 95%CI: -3.96, -2.19; β = -2.19, 95%CI: -2.93, -1.44). No significant differences in any dimensions of LPA and cognitive function. VPA and MPA with any frequency, a duration of ≥30 min/d, VPA with a volume of ≥75 min/w, MPA with a volume of ≥150 min/w, LPA with a frequency of 1-5 d/w, duration of ≥120 min/d, volume of ≥300 min/w had lower risks of depression in individuals, among which those taking VPA with a frequency of 6-7 d/w, duration of ≥240 min/d, volume of ≥300 min/w had the lowest risks of depression (β = -7.10, 95%CI: -7.61, -6.60; β = -7.99, 95%CI: -8.50, -7.47; β = -7.50, 95%CI: -7.93, -7.06). While LPA with a frequency of 6-7 d/w, duration of 10-29 min/d, volume of 10-149 min/w and 150-299 min/w had lower cognitive function scores (β = -1.44, 95%CI: -2.20, -0.69; β = 6.10, 95%CI: 5.26, 6.95; β = 5.83, 95%CI: 4.94, -6.71; β = 2.12, 95%CI: 0.95, 3.28). CONCLUSIONS: In middle-aged and elderly Chinese aged 45 and above, MPA is associated with higher cognitive function and the lower risk of depression, while VPA is associated with the lower risk of depression and may be associated with lower cognitive levels.