Association between sedentary behaviour and cognitive performance: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the ELSI-Brasil study

• Grant number: 22/09256-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Natalia Gomes Gonçalves
• Grantee: Ingryd Mayara Nascimento Martins de Pais
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The impact of the increasing life expectancy on older people, their caregivers, and the health system has shifted the focus of health authorities to preventive measures. Since age is one of the main risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia and the fact that there are currently no effective treatments for dementia, health authorities recommend preventive measures to delay or even prevent cognitive decline and dementia. In addition to age, modifiable risk factors are also associated with cognitive function, such as physical activity, nutrition, and alcohol use. Physical inactivity ranks fourth among the main risk factors for global mortality, causing about 3 million deaths per year. Our aim is to study the association of sedentarism, light and intense physical activity with cognitive function in older people from Brazil. We will use data from 9.412 participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Health and Aging (ELSI-Brasil), aged 50 years or older,from both sexes and from all regions of the country. Data from cognitive assessment and physical activity and sedentary behavior will be used. We will use linear regression to assess the association of sedentarism, light and intense physical activity with cogbitive performance. The results of this study can contribute to the creation of public policies to prevent cognitive impairment.