Key result
Higher life-course physical activity linked to less midlife decline in information processing.
Why the study?
It was unknown whether cumulative physical activity across youth, adulthood, or life-course relates to midlife cognitive changes independently or differs by sex.
Does higher cumulative physical activity from childhood to midlife prevent cognitive decline in midlife?
Cohort (n=1,353)
Does higher cumulative physical activity from childhood to midlife prevent cognitive decline in midlife?
Effect estimate: β=0.08
p-value: p=0.003
Higher cumulative physical activity from childhood through midlife is associated with better preservation of executive cognitive functions, specifically information processing, during midlife.
Supports hypothesis that life-course PA preserves midlife cognition; leaves open causality, requiring RCTs before practice change.
Purpose . To examine whether cumulative PA in youth, adulthood, or from childhood to midlife is associated with cognitive changes in midlife. We further investigated whether cumulative PA in youth or adulthood was independently related to cognitive changes, and whether these associations differed by sex. Methods . This study utilized data (n=1353, 57% females) from the longitudinal, population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, initiated in 1980. Cognitive functions (learning and memory, working memory, reaction time, and information processing) were evaluated using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in 2011 and 2018. PA was assessed with a standardized questionnaire in all study phases (1980–2018), with repeated measurements conducted at 3–9‑year intervals. Cumulative PA was determined for youth (ages 9–24), adulthood (ages 24–48), and life-course (ages 9–48). Associations were analyzed using linear regression models with standardized variables, adjusted for age, education, cardiometabolic risk factors, health behaviors, and a polygenic risk score for cognitive function. Models of cumulative PA in youth and adulthood were additionally adjusted for each other. Results . Higher life-course PA was associated with a smaller decrease in information processing in midlife (β=0.08, p =0.003) (each unit increase in PA corresponded to a predicted 3-year advantage in information processing). Moreover, higher life-course PA was associated with a smaller decrease in working memory among males (β=0.09, p =0.040) (a predicted 2.7-year advantage in working memory). Life-course PA was not associated with other cognitive functions. Youth PA showed no association with cognitive changes after adjusting for adulthood PA, and vice versa. Conclusions: The results suggest that individuals with higher life-course PA experience a smaller decrease in executive aspects of cognitive function during midlife.
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Syväoja et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Cognitive decline (n=1,353). Cumulative physical activity was evaluated on Changes in cognitive functions (learning and memory, working memory, reaction time, and information processing) (β=0.08, p=0.003). Higher life-course physical activity was associated with a smaller decrease in midlife information processing (β=0.08, p=0.003) and, among males, working memory (β=0.09, p=0.040).
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