TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical Activity and Neurocognitive Symptoms in Older Adults During COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Ortiz-Acosta, Perla K.
AU - Martínez, Jairo E.
AU - Vila-Castelar, Clara
AU - Fox-Fuller, Joshua T.
AU - Pluim, Celina
AU - Babulal, Ganesh M.
AU - Ramírez-Gómez, Liliana
AU - Munera, Diana
AU - Quiroz, Yakeel T.
AU - Guzmán-Vélez, Edmarie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2025/2
Y1 - 2025/2
N2 - Objectives: Examine whether physical activity (PA) changes during the COVID-19 pandemic were related to subjective cognitive decline (SCD), depression, and anxiety in older adults and whether these varied by sociodemographic variables. Methods: 301 older adults completed an online survey between May and October 2020 and 3 months later, including self-report questionnaires of SCD, depression, and anxiety. PA changes were determined with a question. Results: 60% of participants reported decreased PA. Those who reduced their PA were more likely to be from low to middle income and younger. PA increase was related to less SCD and depressive symptoms compared to those who decreased it. Participants who maintained their PA had fewer SCD concerns, depressive, and anxiety symptoms than those who decreased it. Discussion: Reducing PA was associated with worse neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms. Encouraging older adults to increase PA may help mitigate some of the pandemic’s adverse effects on psychological well-being.
AB - Objectives: Examine whether physical activity (PA) changes during the COVID-19 pandemic were related to subjective cognitive decline (SCD), depression, and anxiety in older adults and whether these varied by sociodemographic variables. Methods: 301 older adults completed an online survey between May and October 2020 and 3 months later, including self-report questionnaires of SCD, depression, and anxiety. PA changes were determined with a question. Results: 60% of participants reported decreased PA. Those who reduced their PA were more likely to be from low to middle income and younger. PA increase was related to less SCD and depressive symptoms compared to those who decreased it. Participants who maintained their PA had fewer SCD concerns, depressive, and anxiety symptoms than those who decreased it. Discussion: Reducing PA was associated with worse neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms. Encouraging older adults to increase PA may help mitigate some of the pandemic’s adverse effects on psychological well-being.
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - anxiety
KW - depression
KW - exercise
KW - subjective cognitive decline
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85203385817
U2 - 10.1177/07334648241271975
DO - 10.1177/07334648241271975
M3 - Article
C2 - 39229852
AN - SCOPUS:85203385817
SN - 0733-4648
VL - 44
SP - 327
EP - 336
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
IS - 2
ER -