Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41575552›Full record

ArticleNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2026

Association between physical activity and cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults: A cross‑sectional study.

Yu Zhu, Yifang Yang, Wenyuan Li, Nini Shi, Yunhang Wang, Jinhan Nan, Xingxia Zhang, Lin Han, Yuxia Ma

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Article in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yu ZhuEvidence-Based Nursing Center, School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Yifang YangPeking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
Wenyuan LiEvidence-Based Nursing Center, School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Nini ShiEvidence-Based Nursing Center, School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Yunhang WangEvidence-Based Nursing Center, School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Jinhan NanEvidence-Based Nursing Center, School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Xingxia ZhangDepartment of Nursing, Gansu Provincial Third People's Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
Lin HanEvidence-Based Nursing Center, School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China. lzu-hanlin@hotmail.com.
Yuxia MaEvidence-Based Nursing Center, School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China. yuxiama@lzu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8154-8198

Funding

Health and Family Planning Commission of Gansu GSWSHL2022-34Nanjing Military Region Medical Scientific and Technical Innovation Foundation Projects of People's Liberation Army of China lzuyxcx-2022-221National Nature Science Foundation of China 72274087National Nature Science Foundation of China 72474092
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious studies have found substantial heterogeneity in the effects of physical activity (PA) of different intensities on cognitive function. This study aimed to explore the association between PA levels and cognitive impairment and clarify the dose-response relationship among older adults in China.

methodsThis was a cross-sectional study, using data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We explored the association between PA levels and cognitive impairment using logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and restrictive cubic spline (RCS) analysis.

resultsAmong the 3354 older participants, those who performed moderate intensity PA (MPA) showed a significant association with decreased odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment after adjusting for all confounding factors (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.43 ~ 0.80). Subgroup analysis demonstrated consistent effects across all subgroups (P > 0.05). The results of the RCS analysis revealed a non-linear "J"-shaped dose-response relationship between PA levels and cognitive impairment (P

conclusionMPA has greater benefits for cognitive function compared to light intensity PA, whereas vigorous intensity PA does not appear to offer additional protective benefits. PA is a dose-dependent factor associated with cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults, and approximately 1,600 MET-min/wk represents the optimal PA level for minimizing the risk of cognitive impairment. These findings can help offer more scientific PA recommendations to reduce or delay the development of cognitive impairment in older adults.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionExerciseAgedAged, 80 and overChinaCross-Sectional StudiesEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedCognitive impairmentDose–response relationshipOlder adultsPhysical activity

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.