Higher Cardiorespiratory Fitness is Associated with Better Verbal Generativity in Community Dwelling Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES.: To examine the associations between physical activity duration and intensity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and executive function in older adults.

METHODS.: Data from ninety-nine cognitively normal adults (age = 69.10 ± 5.1 years n = 54 female) were used in the current study. Physical activity (intensity and duration) was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and fitness was measured by analysis of maximal aerobic capacity; VO2peak . Executive function was measured comprehensively, including measures of Shifting, Updating, Inhibition, Generativity, and Non-verbal Reasoning.

RESULTS.: Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with better performance on Generativity (B =.55; 95% CI [.15, .97]). No significant associations were found between self-reported physical activity intensity/duration and executive functions.

DISCUSSION.: To our knowledge, this study is the first to identify an association between fitness and Generativity. Associations between physical activity duration, intensity and executive function requires further study, using objective physical activity measures and longitudinal observations.