The Power of Physical Activity and Sleep: Sex-Specific Pathways to Cognitive Health in Older Adults
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Mentor Information
Ashley Curtis
Description
Physical activity (PA) and sleep health are associated with cognition. However, limited research has examined the interactive effects of PA and sleep on domain-specific cognitive function in older adults. Although sex differences exist independently across all factors, sex-specific interactive investigations are limited. This study investigated whether the relationship between PA, sleep and cognition varies by sex in older adults. Older adults (N=119; Mage=68.3±5.6; 73 women) completed measures of insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and cognition (NIH Toolbox-Cognitive Battery). Multiple regressions examined whether insomnia severity interacted with physical activity in associations with cognition and tested further moderation by sex. The three-way interaction between insomnia severity, moderate PA, and sex was significantly associated with Flanker-inhibition performance (R2=.05, p=.01). Specifically, in older men, lower insomnia severity was associated with better inhibition only at highest levels of moderate PA (~600 mins/week, B=- .33, p=.02), but not at average (~150 mins/week; p=.89) or lowest (~11 mins/week; p=.53) levels of moderate PA. Findings reveal a sex-specific relationship among insomnia symptoms, PA, and inhibitory control in older adults. In men, lower insomnia symptoms were linked to better inhibition only at higher levels of moderate PA. These findings highlight the interactive influence of sleep and PA on higher order cognitive functioning and point to modifiable sex-specific recommendations and/ or targets for interventions aimed at reducing risk of cognitive decline. Future longitudinal research should explore sex and gender-specific factors (e.g., modulation of neural androgen receptors, gender-related PA patterns) that may underlie these associations.
The Power of Physical Activity and Sleep: Sex-Specific Pathways to Cognitive Health in Older Adults
Physical activity (PA) and sleep health are associated with cognition. However, limited research has examined the interactive effects of PA and sleep on domain-specific cognitive function in older adults. Although sex differences exist independently across all factors, sex-specific interactive investigations are limited. This study investigated whether the relationship between PA, sleep and cognition varies by sex in older adults. Older adults (N=119; Mage=68.3±5.6; 73 women) completed measures of insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and cognition (NIH Toolbox-Cognitive Battery). Multiple regressions examined whether insomnia severity interacted with physical activity in associations with cognition and tested further moderation by sex. The three-way interaction between insomnia severity, moderate PA, and sex was significantly associated with Flanker-inhibition performance (R2=.05, p=.01). Specifically, in older men, lower insomnia severity was associated with better inhibition only at highest levels of moderate PA (~600 mins/week, B=- .33, p=.02), but not at average (~150 mins/week; p=.89) or lowest (~11 mins/week; p=.53) levels of moderate PA. Findings reveal a sex-specific relationship among insomnia symptoms, PA, and inhibitory control in older adults. In men, lower insomnia symptoms were linked to better inhibition only at higher levels of moderate PA. These findings highlight the interactive influence of sleep and PA on higher order cognitive functioning and point to modifiable sex-specific recommendations and/ or targets for interventions aimed at reducing risk of cognitive decline. Future longitudinal research should explore sex and gender-specific factors (e.g., modulation of neural androgen receptors, gender-related PA patterns) that may underlie these associations.
