Journal article
Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Hippocampal Volume, and Frequency of Forgetting in Older Adults
Neuropsychology, Vol.25(5), pp.545-553
09/2011
DOI: 10.1037/a0022733
PMCID: PMC3140615
PMID: 21500917
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was
to extend our earlier work to determine the extent to which cardiorespiratory
fitness is associated with the frequency of memory problems via its effects on
the hippocampus and spatial working memory. We hypothesized that age, sex,
education, body composition, and physical activity were direct determinants of
fitness, which, in turn, influenced frequency of forgetting indirectly through
hippocampal volume and spatial working memory.
Method: We conducted assessments of
demographic characteristics, Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity,
cardiorespiratory fitness, hippocampal volume, spatial working memory, and
frequency of forgetting in 158 older adults (M age = 66.49).
Path analyses within a covariance modeling framework were used to examine
relationships among these constructs. Results:
Sex, age, BMI, and education were all significant determinants of
cardiorespiratory fitness. The hypothesized path models for testing the effects
of fitness on frequency of forgetting through hippocampal volume and accuracy
and speed of spatial working memory all fit the data well.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that
older adults with higher levels of fitness show greater preservation of
hippocampal volume, which, in turn, is associated with more accurate and faster
spatial memory and fewer episodes of forgetting. Given the proportion of older
adults reporting memory problems, it is necessary to determine whether
improvements in fitness brought about by physical activity interventions can
result in subsequent attenuation of memory problems or potentially in
improvements in memory.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Hippocampal Volume, and Frequency of Forgetting in Older Adults
- Creators
- Amanda N Szabo - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignEdward McAuley - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignKirk I Erickson - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignMichelle Voss - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignRuchika S Prakash - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignEmily L Mailey - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThomas R Wójcicki - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignSiobhan M White - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignNeha Gothe - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignErin A Olson - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignArthur F Kramer - Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Contributors
- Stephen M Rao (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neuropsychology, Vol.25(5), pp.545-553
- DOI
- 10.1037/a0022733
- PMID
- 21500917
- PMCID
- PMC3140615
- NLM abbreviation
- Neuropsychology
- ISSN
- 0894-4105
- eISSN
- 1931-1559
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: 05 R37 AG025667
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/2011
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984070541502771
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