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205 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MODULATES GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS IN COGNITIVE AGEING: RESULTS FROM THE IRISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGEING
Marica Cassarino, Annalisa Setti. Age and Ageing, 2016-09-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Recent evidence indicates that rural individuals show poorer cognitive performance than urban dwellers. Urban environments offer a wider range of cognitive stimulation, and are associated with higher levels of tonic arousal. A cross-sectional association between urban living and better performance in global cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) has been found after controlling for individual level factors (Cassarino, O'Sullivan, Kenny & Setti, 2015). Another study found a non-linear relationship between land-use mix and dementia. The present study aimed to assess whether the cognitive disadvantage of living in a rural environment may be compensated by modifiable lifestyle factors, i.e. physical activity. We hypothesised that levels of physical activity would modulate cognitive performance especially for rural dwellers, who most need cognitively stimulating activities. Methods Cross-sectional analyses of MoCA were conducted for healthy Irish people aged 50+ participating in Wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, in relation to the interaction between levels of physical activity measured through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and residence either in urban, suburban, or rural areas, while controlling socio-demographic, health, and other lifestyle factors. Results After controlling for confounders, engaging in vigorous weekly physical activity modulated the association between environment of residence and global cognition, with physically active rural participants showing no differences from the urban group in terms of MoCA scores. No interactions were found for the other environments. Conclusions The results support the hypothesis that engaging in physical activity can compensate for urban-rural differences in cognitive performance in ageing. The findings have implications for the promotion of lifestyle initiatives tailored to the environment of residence.
Key findings
- Background Recent evidence indicates that rural individuals show poorer cognitive performance than urban dwellers.
- Urban environments offer a wider range of cognitive stimulation, and are associated with higher levels of tonic arousal.
- Results After controlling for confounders, engaging in vigorous weekly physical activity modulated the association between environment of residence and global cognition, with physically active rural participants showing no differences from the urban group in terms of MoCA scores.
- Conclusions The results support the hypothesis that engaging in physical activity can compensate for urban-rural differences in cognitive performance in ageing.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study found that vigorous weekly physical activity modulated the link between rural or urban residence and global cognition in older Irish adults. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 30/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Age and Ageing) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Age and Ageing: journal h-index 231 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Annalisa Setti: h-index 27 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University College Cork: institution h-index 668 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 30 / 100 | — |
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Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Cassarino, M., & Setti, A. (2016). 205 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MODULATES GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS IN COGNITIVE AGEING: RESULTS FROM THE IRISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGEING. Age and Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw159.186
Vancouver
Cassarino M, Setti A. 205 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MODULATES GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS IN COGNITIVE AGEING: RESULTS FROM THE IRISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGEING. Age and Ageing. 2016. doi:10.1093/ageing/afw159.186.
BibTeX
@article{cassarino2016-abdaa890,
author = {Cassarino, Marica and Setti, Annalisa},
title = {{205 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MODULATES GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS IN COGNITIVE AGEING: RESULTS FROM THE IRISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGEING}},
journal = {Age and Ageing},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1093/ageing/afw159.186},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw159.186}
}