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Active Travel and Mild Cognitive Impairment among Older Adults from Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

ABSTRACT: Active travel may be an easily achievable form of physical activity for older people especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but there are currently no studies on how this form of physical activity is associated with a preclinical state of dementia known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between active travel and MCI among adults aged ≥50 years from six LMICs. Cross-sectional, community-based data from the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health were analyzed. The definition of MCI was based on the National Institute on Ageing-Alzheimer's Association criteria. Active travel (minutes/week) was assessed with questions of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and presented in tertiles. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between active travel and MCI. Data on 32715 people aged ≥50 years (mean age 62.4 years; 52.1% females) were analyzed. Compared to the highest tertile of active travel, the lowest tertile was associated with 1.33 (95%CI = 1.14-1.54) times higher odds for MCI overall. This association was particularly pronounced among those aged ≥65 years (OR = 1.70; 95%CI = 1.32-2.19) but active travel was not associated with MCI among those aged 50-64 years. In conclusion, low levels of active travel were associated with a significantly higher odds of MCI in adults aged ≥65 years in LMICs. Promoting active travel among people of this age group in LMICs via tailored interventions and/or country-wide infrastructure investment to provide a safe environment for active travel may lead to a reduction in MCI and subsequent dementia.

SUBMITTER: Smith L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8002501 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundThere is little evidence on the potential health benefits of active travel in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to assess the association between levels of active travel and physical multi-morbidity (i.e., two or more chronic physical conditions) and individual physical conditions among community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older in six LMICs.MethodsData were analyzed from the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa). Active travel (minutes / week) was assessed with questions of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and presented in tertiles. Eleven chronic conditions (angina, arthritis, asthma, chronic back pain, chronic lung disease, diabetes, edentulism, hearing problems, hypertension, stroke, visual impairment) were assessed by self-report of diagnosis, symptoms, or blood pressure measurement. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between levels of active travel, physical conditions and physical multi-morbidity.ResultsThe final sample consisted of 14,585 individuals aged ≥65 years (mean age = 72.6±0.1 years; 54.9% female). In the fully adjusted model, compared to the highest tertile, those in the lowest tertile of active travel had a 1.28 (95%CI = 1.06-1.54) times higher odds for physical multi-morbidity. The association between active travel and physical multi-morbidity was significantly mediated by affect (14.4%) and cognition (9.7%). With regard to individual conditions, hearing problems, hypertension, stroke, and visual impairment were particularly strongly associated with less active travel.ConclusionThe current data suggest that lower levels of active travel are associated with the presence of physical health conditions and physical multi-morbidity. This multi-national study offers potentially valuable insight for a number of hypotheses which may influence this relationship, although testing with longitudinal studies is needed.

Project description:ImportanceVision impairment (VI), including blindness, affects hundreds of millions globally, and 90% of those with VI live in low- and middle-income countries. Cross-national comparisons are important to elucidate the unique and shared factors associated with VI and receipt of eye care in different countries and to target those most in need.ObjectiveTo identify the characteristics associated with VI and receipt of eye care in a sample of low- and middle-income countries.Design, setting, and participantsIn this study of cross-sectional survey data from wave 1 of the World Health Organization Study on Global Aging and Adult Health, data on sociodemographic characteristics and health were collected from nationally representative samples in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa from 2007 to 2010. Probability sampling with multistage, stratified, random-cluster samples was used to identify households and participants. The survey was completed by 34 159 adults 50 years and older. Data were analyzed from December 2017 to February 2018.Main outcomes and measuresWe analyzed associations of individual-level and household-level covariates with 3 primary outcomes: distance VI (visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better-seeing eye), near VI (visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better-seeing eye), and receipt of an eye examination within the previous 2 years.ResultsThe study sample in China consisted of 13 350 participants (50.2% female; mean [SD] age, 62.6 [9.0] years); in Ghana, 4725 participants (50.4% female; mean [SD] age, 64.2 [10.8] years); in India, 7150 participants (48.9% female; mean [SD] age, 61.5 [9.0] years); in Mexico, 2103 participants (52.3% female; mean [SD] age, 69.2 [9.2] years); in Russia, 3763 participants (61.1% female; mean [SD] age, 63.9 [10.4] years); and in South Africa, 3838 participants (55.9% female; mean [SD] age 61.6 [9.5]) (all demographic characteristics weighted to reflect respective populations). The weighted proportion of the study sample with distance VI ranged from 9.9% (95% CI, 9.3-10.5) in China to 25.4% (95% CI, 22.0-29.2) in Russia; near VI, from 28.5% (95% CI, 26.9-30.1) in Ghana to 43.1% (95% CI, 41.1-45.1) in India; and receipt of a recent eye examination, from 15.0% (95% CI, 13.8-16.2) in Ghana to 53.1% (95% CI, 49.3-56.8) in Russia. Educational attainment, medical comorbidities, and memory were significantly associated with all outcomes across most low- and middle-income countries. Female sex, low household wealth, food insecurity, no health insurance, rurality, disability, being unmarried, and low social participation were significantly associated with adverse vision-related outcomes, though less consistently.Conclusions and relevanceThere are both common and unique characteristics associated with VI and receipt of eye care across low- and middle-income countries. Our findings suggest that recognizing these factors is important to identify those most at risk and allocate resources optimally. Additional local epidemiological studies are needed.

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Active Travel and Mild Cognitive Impairment among Older Adults from Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

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