Engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity supports overnight memory retention in older adults

Miranda G Chappel-Farley^{1

2

3

4}, Destiny E Berisha^{5

6}, Abhishek Dave⁷, Rachel M Sanders⁸, Christopher E Kline⁸, John T Janecek^{5

6}, Negin Sattari⁹, Kitty K Lui¹⁰, Ivy Y Chen⁹, Ariel B Neikrug⁹, Ruth M Benca^{6

9

11

12}, Michael A Yassa^{5

6

12

13}, Bryce A Mander^{5

7

9

12

14}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
² Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
³ Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
⁴ UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
⁵ Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
⁶ Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
⁷ Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
⁸ Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
⁹ Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
¹⁰ Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
¹¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA.
¹² Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
¹³ Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.

PMID: 39738288
PMCID: PMC11686232
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-83336-0

Engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity supports overnight memory retention in older adults

Miranda G Chappel-Farley et al. Sci Rep. 2024.

. 2024 Dec 30;14(1):31873.

doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83336-0.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
² Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
³ Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
⁴ UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. chappelfarleymg@upmc.edu.
⁵ Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
⁶ Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
⁷ Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
⁸ Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
⁹ Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
¹⁰ Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
¹¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA.
¹² Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
¹³ Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.

PMID: 39738288
PMCID: PMC11686232
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-83336-0

Abstract

Preserving the ability to vividly recall emotionally rich experiences contributes to quality of life in older adulthood. While prior works suggest that moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) may bolster memory, it is unclear whether this extends to emotionally salient memories consolidated during sleep. In the current study, older adults (mean age = 72.3 ± 5.8) completed an overnight polysomnography assessment with emotional memory tested before and after sleep and a self-report questionnaire assessing habitual PA. Results show that better negative emotional memory consolidation was associated with the frequency and duration of MPA. Statistically replacing 30 min of lower-intensity activity with MPA was associated with better negative emotional memory consolidation. MPA may enhance sleep-dependent consolidation of negative memories in older adults, with modest increases in MPA yielding significant consolidation benefits. Findings may guide interventions and inform public health recommendations by demonstrating that substituting even short durations of low-intensity activity for MPA could produce significant cognitive gains in older adulthood.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: Dr. Mander has served as a consultant to Eisai and AstronauTx. Dr. Yassa has served as a consultant for Eisai, Pfizer, Cognito Therapeutics, Dart Neuroscience, Curasen Therapeutics, Myosin Therapeutics and BPT Pharma. He is also co-founder and scientific advisor for Augnition Labs and Enthorin Therapeutics. Dr. Benca has served as a consultant to Eisai, Idorsia, Merck, Sage, and Genentech. Dr. Chappel-Farley has served as a consultant to Apnimed. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this work.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
(A) More frequent and (B) longer duration moderate-intensity physical activity is associated with better overnight retention of negative emotional memories. Abbreviations: Frq—Frequency; PA—Physical activity.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity supports overnight memory retention in older adults

Affiliations

Engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity supports overnight memory retention in older adults

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical