Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adults

Previous literature suggests that higher fitness is related to better executive function in older adulthood, but the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood. While many studies have focused on these associations in older adulthood, recent evidence suggests the importance of card...

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Main Authors: Marissa A. Gogniat, Junyeon Won, Daniel D. Callow, J. Carson Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-01-01
Series:Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666245022001003
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author Marissa A. Gogniat
Junyeon Won
Daniel D. Callow
J. Carson Smith
author_facet Marissa A. Gogniat
Junyeon Won
Daniel D. Callow
J. Carson Smith
author_sort Marissa A. Gogniat
collection DOAJ
description Previous literature suggests that higher fitness is related to better executive function in older adulthood, but the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood. While many studies have focused on these associations in older adulthood, recent evidence suggests the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and long-term blood pressure control on cognitive functioning. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether mean arterial pressure (MAP) mediated the association between CRF and executive function in middle age and older adults. Participants were adults (age 40+) without any self-reported psychiatric and neurological disorders or cognitive impairment from the Nathan Kline Institute Rockland Sample (N = 224, M age = 56). CRF was defined by V̇O2max estimated via a bike test, neuropsychological testing was used to examine executive functioning, and MAP was calculated from systolic and diastolic blood pressure recordings. Mediation models were analyzed controlling for age, sex, and education. Results indicated that higher CRF was associated with better inhibition (B = -0.0048, t = -2.16, p = 0.03) and there was a significant indirect effect of greater CRF on better inhibition through lower MAP (B = -0.0011; CI [-0.0026, -0.0002]). There were additional significant indirect effects of greater CRF and better fluency (B = 0.0028; CI [.0009, 0.0053]) and planning (B = 0.0037; CI [.0014, 0.0074]) through lower MAP. This suggests that MAP may be an underlaying physiological mechanism by which CRF influences executive function in mid- and older adulthood.
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spelling doaj.art-57ec7db95a9242c78496bcc2742c23b62022-12-22T04:41:32ZengElsevierCerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior2666-24502022-01-013100135Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adultsMarissa A. Gogniat0Junyeon Won1Daniel D. Callow2J. Carson Smith3Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USA; Department of Kinesiology, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USA; Department of Kinesiology, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USA.Previous literature suggests that higher fitness is related to better executive function in older adulthood, but the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood. While many studies have focused on these associations in older adulthood, recent evidence suggests the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and long-term blood pressure control on cognitive functioning. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether mean arterial pressure (MAP) mediated the association between CRF and executive function in middle age and older adults. Participants were adults (age 40+) without any self-reported psychiatric and neurological disorders or cognitive impairment from the Nathan Kline Institute Rockland Sample (N = 224, M age = 56). CRF was defined by V̇O2max estimated via a bike test, neuropsychological testing was used to examine executive functioning, and MAP was calculated from systolic and diastolic blood pressure recordings. Mediation models were analyzed controlling for age, sex, and education. Results indicated that higher CRF was associated with better inhibition (B = -0.0048, t = -2.16, p = 0.03) and there was a significant indirect effect of greater CRF on better inhibition through lower MAP (B = -0.0011; CI [-0.0026, -0.0002]). There were additional significant indirect effects of greater CRF and better fluency (B = 0.0028; CI [.0009, 0.0053]) and planning (B = 0.0037; CI [.0014, 0.0074]) through lower MAP. This suggests that MAP may be an underlaying physiological mechanism by which CRF influences executive function in mid- and older adulthood.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666245022001003Blood pressureFitnessExecutive functionAging
spellingShingle Marissa A. Gogniat
Junyeon Won
Daniel D. Callow
J. Carson Smith
Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adults
Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior
Blood pressure
Fitness
Executive function
Aging
title Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adults
title_full Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adults
title_fullStr Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adults
title_full_unstemmed Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adults
title_short Mean arterial pressure, fitness, and executive function in middle age and older adults
title_sort mean arterial pressure fitness and executive function in middle age and older adults
topic Blood pressure
Fitness
Executive function
Aging
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666245022001003
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