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High Physical Fitness Is Associated With Better Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Lucimére Bohn, Cátia Silva, Edmar Lacerda Mendes, Leonor Miranda. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 2025-09-30
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
A higher GPF was associated with better cognitive function in institutionalized older adults with dementia. Significance/ It is crucial to understand the relationships between cognitive decline and PF in older adults with dementia. Once both are correlated, we might suggest that improving fitness may help slow cognitive decline and vice versa, which must be ascertained through longitudinal and experimental studies.
Key findings
- A higher GPF was associated with better cognitive function in institutionalized older adults with dementia.
- Significance/ It is crucial to understand the relationships between cognitive decline and PF in older adults with dementia.
- Once both are correlated, we might suggest that improving fitness may help slow cognitive decline and vice versa, which must be ascertained through longitudinal and experimental studies.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study, older adults with dementia who were physically fitter also had better cognitive function. Because the study looked at one point in time, it cannot show whether improving fitness would slow cognitive decline, and the authors say longer and experimental studies are needed.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 36/100
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. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 35 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 36 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Aging and Physical Activity) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Aging and Physical Activity: journal h-index 91 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× 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 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universidade do Porto: institution h-index 646 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41027567) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 35 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 35 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 36 out of 100. |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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
Bohn, L., Silva, C., Mendes, E. L., & Miranda, L. (2025). High Physical Fitness Is Associated With Better Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2024-0286
Vancouver
Bohn L, Silva C, Mendes EL, Miranda L. High Physical Fitness Is Associated With Better Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 2025. doi:10.1123/japa.2024-0286. PMID: 41027567.
BibTeX
@article{bohn2025-41027567,
author = {Bohn, Lucimére and Silva, Cátia and Mendes, Edmar Lacerda and Miranda, Leonor},
title = {{High Physical Fitness Is Associated With Better Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study}},
journal = {Journal of Aging and Physical Activity},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1123/japa.2024-0286},
pmid = {41027567},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2024-0286}
}
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