The Beneficial Effect of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Function in a Non-dementia Aging Chinese Population

Abstract

Numerous observational studies have shown that physical exercise promotes cognition in the elderly, however, the results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are ambiguous. In addition, potential benefits of exercise in an elderly Chinese population have not been comprehensively addressed. In this study, an investigation was launched which focused on the relationship between physical exercise and cognitive function, blood lipid profiles and brain anatomy in a non-dementia aging Chinese population. A total of 2074 non-dementia elderly subjects were included (self-selected exercise n = 1372; self-selected non-exercise n = 702). Amongst the subjects, 689 volunteered to receive blood lipid tests, 141 undergo brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 1399 receive a 1 year cognitive evaluation follow-up. The Beijing version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental States Examination (MMSE) were used to assess cognitive function. A significant difference in cognitive function was observed at the baseline and during the 1-year follow-up between the self-selected exercise and self-selected non-exercise groups, however, no significant differences in blood lipids and brain anatomy was evident. Physical exercise has a beneficial effect on cognition, particularly visuospatial function, and decreases the risk of dementia in a Chinese aging cohort.

Keywords: brain anatomy; cognitive function; dementia; exercise; lipid.

FIGURE 1

Cognitive functions in self-selected exercise and self-selected non-exercise groups. (A) Significant differences were apparent of baseline and 1 year follow-up MMSE scores between self-selected exercise and self-selected non-exercise groups. (B) Significant differences of baseline and 1 year follow-up MoCA scores were apparent between self-selected exercise and self-selected non-exercise groups.