Scientists from the National Center for Healthy Aging found that better performance on physical tests is related to better cognition later in life and may protect against dementia in later years.
The research is published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport and was conducted by Dr. Jamie Tait et al.
It is known that children who develop muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and endurance due to sport and activity have better health outcomes later in life.
Higher adult fitness is also linked to better cognition and reduced risk of dementia later in life.
In the study, the team examined the impact of childhood fitness and obesity on cognition in middle age, following over 1200 people who were children in 1985 for over 30 years.
In 1985, the 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).
The researchers found that children with the highest levels of cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness and lower average waist-to-hip ratio had higher midlife scores in tests of processing speed and attention, as well as in global cognitive function.
They say a decline in cognitive performance can begin as early as middle age, and lower midlife cognition has been linked to a greater likelihood of developing mild cognitive impairment and dementia in older age.
It is important to identify factors in early life that may protect against cognitive decline during later life.
The study also indicates that protective strategies against future cognitive decline may need to start as far back as early childhood so that the brain can develop sufficient reserve against developing conditions such as dementia in older life.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that vitamin deficiency may lead to dementia, and new drug to treat Lewy body dementia.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that Mid-life heart disease prevention may prevent later dementia, and results showing nightly sleep of 5 hours, or less, may increase the risk of dementia.
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