Abstract
Objectives
Clusters of low fitness and high obesity in childhood are associated with poorer health
outcomes in later life, however their relationship with cognition is unknown. Identifying
such profiles may inform strategies to reduce risk of cognitive decline. This study
examined whether specific profiles of childhood fitness and obesity were associated
with midlife cognition.
Design
Prospective study.
Methods
In 1985, participants aged 7–15 years from the Australian Childhood Determinants of
Adult Health study were assessed for fitness (cardiorespiratory, muscular power, muscular
endurance) and anthropometry (waist-to-hip ratio). Participants were followed up between
2017 and 2019 (aged 39–50). Composites of psychomotor speed-attention, learning-working
memory and global cognition were assessed using CogState computerised battery. Latent
profile analysis was used to derive mutually exclusive profiles based on fitness and
anthropometry. Linear regression analyses examined associations between childhood
profile membership and midlife cognition adjusting for age, sex and education level.
Results
1244 participants were included [age: 44.4 ± 2.6 (mean ± SD) years, 53% female]. Compared
to those with the highest levels of fitness and lowest waist-to-hip ratio, three different
profiles characterised by combinations of poorer cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular
endurance and power were associated with lower midlife psychomotor-attention [up to
−1.09 (−1.92, −0.26) SD], and lower global cognition [up to −0.71 (−1.41, −0.01) SD].
No associations were detected with learning-working memory.
Conclusions
Strategies that improve low fitness and decrease obesity levels in childhood could
contribute to improvements in cognitive performance in midlife.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 15, 2022
Accepted:
May 20,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 7,
2022
Received:
January 17,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
