Effects of Physical Activity on Cognitive Functioning in Middle Age: Evidence From the Whitehall II Prospective Cohort Study
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Objectives. We examined the association between physical activity and cognitive functioning in middle age. Methods. Data were derived from a prospective occupational cohort study of 10308 civil servants aged 35–55 years at baseline (phase 1; 1985–1988). Physical activity level, categorized as low, medium, or high, was assessed at phases 1, 3 (1991–1994), and 5 (1997–1999). Cognitive functioning was tested at phase 5, when respondents were 46–68 years old. Results. In both prospective (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.30, 2.10) and cross-sectional (OR=1.79; 95% CI=1.38, 2.32) analyses, low levels of physical activity were a risk factor for poor performance on a measure of fluid intelligence. Analyses aimed at assessing cumulative effects (summary of physical activity levels at the 3 time points) showed a graded linear relationship with fluid intelligence, with persistently low levels of physical activity being particularly harmful (OR=2.21; 95% CI=1.37, 3.57). Conclusions. Low levels of physical activity are a risk factor for cognitive functioning in middle age, fluid intelligence in particular.
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Among seniors in general, exercise or physical fitness is associated with better cognitive scores, and midlife exercise significantly reduces the later risk of both dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
“Among seniors in general, exercise or physical fitness has not only been associated with better cognitive scores, but midlife exercise significantly reduces the later risk of both dementia and mild cognitive impairment.”
From Does vigorous exercise have a neuroprotective effect in Parkinson disease? (2011) · cites this paper as [21]
Early-life and midlife exercise reduces the subsequent risk of mild cognitive impairment.
“Early-life and midlife exercise reduces the subsequent risk of MCI.20 -23”
From Does vigorous exercise have a neuroprotective effect in Parkinson disease? (2011) · cites this paper as [21]
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References 55 · Cited by 186
- Authors
- Singh-Manoux, A., Hillsdon, M., Brunner, E., & Marmot, M.
- Affiliations
- All of the authors are with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, England. Archana Singh-Manoux is also with INSERM, U687, Saint-Maurice Cedex, France.
- Inserm (FR)
- Venue
- American Journal of Public Health
- Publisher
- American Public Health Association
- Published
- 2005-12
- Volume
- 95
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 2252-2258
- ISSN
- 0090-0036 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-0048
- PMC
- PMC1449515
- OpenAlex
- W2073738142
- Cited by
- 186
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 2.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- American Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS06516)
- National Institute on Aging (AG 13196, R37AG013196, R01AG013196)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL36310, R01HL036310)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- physical activity, cognitive function, fluid intelligence, middle age (human life stage), cognitive aging, public sector employees, occupational cohort, risk factors, cumulative effects
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, London, Male, Middle Aged, Cohort Studies, Exercise
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