Dose-Response Relation Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Function: Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

PURPOSE: To examine, via cross-sectional analysis, the dose response association between physical activity and cognitive function in Chinese subjects. METHODS: A total of 27,651 participants aged 50 to 85 years were recruited from 2003 to 2008. Information on potential confounders, including demographic and anthropometric characteristics, socioeconomic position, lifestyle, and disease history, was collected by standardized interview and procedures. Cognitive function was assessed by the delayed 10-word recall test (DWRT). RESULTS: When the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used, we found that most of the participants were classified as physically active (53.1%), with 42.4% moderately active and 4.5% physically inactive. Significant dose response relations across quintiles of metabolic equivalent value (METs) with DWRT score in participants with or without good self-rated health were found (all p for trend