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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access published online on February 4, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, doi:10.1093/geronb/gbn030
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Is the Effect of Reported Physical Activity on Disability Mediated by Cognitive Performance in White and African American Older Adults?

Mihaela A. Popa1, Sandra L. Reynolds2 and Brent J. Small2

1 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
2 School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa

Address correspondence to Mihaela A. Popa, MD, PhD, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Health Outcomes and Behavior, 12902 Magnolia Drive, SA-PROG, Tampa, FL 33612-9497. Email: mihaela.popa{at}moffitt.org


  Abstract

This study examined if reported physical activity has beneficial outcomes on disability through cognitive performance–mediated effects and if these mediation effects are comparable for White and African American elders. Longitudinal data from the Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old study (N = 4,472) are used to test mediation in multilevel models. During the 7-year follow-up, cognitive performance mediated the effects of reported physical activity on disability in the entire sample and in Whites but not in African Americans. Our results indicate that reported physical activity may delay the disability development through improvement in cognitive performance. Unmeasured education and comorbidity influences may have obscured the mediation effects in African Americans. Reported physical activity plays a key role in the independence of older adults and should be particularly promoted in African Americans and during the entire life course.

Key Words: Cognitive performance • Disability • Reported physical activity • White and African American older adults

Received August 5, 2007; Accepted October 1, 2008

Decision Editor: Karen Hooker, PhD


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