Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.

BACKGROUND:A number of studies have evaluated the association between cognitive function, pain, and physical activity. To our knowledge, however, no previous studies have evaluated these factors at the population level. AIMS:To evaluate the association between cognitive function in the elderly with...

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Main Authors: Nelson Mauro Maldonato, Raffaele Sperandeo, Giovanni Caiazzo, Valeria Cioffi, Pasquale Cozzolino, Rosa Maria De Santo, Maria Luigia Fusco, Vittoria Silviana Iorio, Elena Gigante, Patrizia Marone, Nicole Nascivera, Chiara Scognamiglio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5983501?pdf=render
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author Nelson Mauro Maldonato
Raffaele Sperandeo
Giovanni Caiazzo
Valeria Cioffi
Pasquale Cozzolino
Rosa Maria De Santo
Maria Luigia Fusco
Vittoria Silviana Iorio
Elena Gigante
Patrizia Marone
Nicole Nascivera
Chiara Scognamiglio
author_facet Nelson Mauro Maldonato
Raffaele Sperandeo
Giovanni Caiazzo
Valeria Cioffi
Pasquale Cozzolino
Rosa Maria De Santo
Maria Luigia Fusco
Vittoria Silviana Iorio
Elena Gigante
Patrizia Marone
Nicole Nascivera
Chiara Scognamiglio
author_sort Nelson Mauro Maldonato
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND:A number of studies have evaluated the association between cognitive function, pain, and physical activity. To our knowledge, however, no previous studies have evaluated these factors at the population level. AIMS:To evaluate the association between cognitive function in the elderly with pain, physical activity, and the interaction between these variables. Estimates are generated for the United States population. METHODS:We made use of the NHANES database (1999-2002), making adjustments so that our results represent the United States population. Cognitive function was evaluated through the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Our main predictors were (1) pain, defined as soreness of either the shoulder, neck, lower back and joint, or a severe headache (2) physical activity, measured as the performance while performing tasks at home, physical activity intensity, walking, bicycle riding, and muscle strengthening. RESULTS:Most individual pain sites were not significantly associated with cognitive function, while all physical activity factors were associated with an increase in cognitive function. When evaluating the sample subset of those with cognitive scores lower than the median, a combination of more pain and less physical activity was consistently associated with lower cognitive scores when compared to those performing more physical activity with or without pain. When evaluating individuals with cognitive scores above the median, a similar association pattern was perceived. CONCLUSIONS:Among the population of individuals above the age of 60, higher cognitive levels are associated with more physical activity and less with pain, although both factors might impact cognition. Public policy resources should be commensurate with these findings when targeting cognitive function among the aging population.
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spelling doaj.art-ab0b0af647324a47b2047b3c2cb09a932022-12-22T01:54:23ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01136e019774510.1371/journal.pone.0197745Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.Nelson Mauro MaldonatoRaffaele SperandeoGiovanni CaiazzoValeria CioffiPasquale CozzolinoRosa Maria De SantoMaria Luigia FuscoVittoria Silviana IorioElena GigantePatrizia MaroneNicole NasciveraChiara ScognamiglioBACKGROUND:A number of studies have evaluated the association between cognitive function, pain, and physical activity. To our knowledge, however, no previous studies have evaluated these factors at the population level. AIMS:To evaluate the association between cognitive function in the elderly with pain, physical activity, and the interaction between these variables. Estimates are generated for the United States population. METHODS:We made use of the NHANES database (1999-2002), making adjustments so that our results represent the United States population. Cognitive function was evaluated through the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Our main predictors were (1) pain, defined as soreness of either the shoulder, neck, lower back and joint, or a severe headache (2) physical activity, measured as the performance while performing tasks at home, physical activity intensity, walking, bicycle riding, and muscle strengthening. RESULTS:Most individual pain sites were not significantly associated with cognitive function, while all physical activity factors were associated with an increase in cognitive function. When evaluating the sample subset of those with cognitive scores lower than the median, a combination of more pain and less physical activity was consistently associated with lower cognitive scores when compared to those performing more physical activity with or without pain. When evaluating individuals with cognitive scores above the median, a similar association pattern was perceived. CONCLUSIONS:Among the population of individuals above the age of 60, higher cognitive levels are associated with more physical activity and less with pain, although both factors might impact cognition. Public policy resources should be commensurate with these findings when targeting cognitive function among the aging population.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5983501?pdf=render
spellingShingle Nelson Mauro Maldonato
Raffaele Sperandeo
Giovanni Caiazzo
Valeria Cioffi
Pasquale Cozzolino
Rosa Maria De Santo
Maria Luigia Fusco
Vittoria Silviana Iorio
Elena Gigante
Patrizia Marone
Nicole Nascivera
Chiara Scognamiglio
Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.
PLoS ONE
title Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.
title_full Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.
title_fullStr Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.
title_full_unstemmed Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.
title_short Keep moving without hurting: The interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level.
title_sort keep moving without hurting the interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5983501?pdf=render
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