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Nonlinear Associations of Accelerometer-Based Sedentary Time With Cognitive Functions in the UK Biobank
Silvio Maltagliati, Daniel H. Aslan, M. Katherine Sayre, Pradyumna K. Bharadwaj, Madeline Ally, Mark H. C. Lai, Rand R. Wilcox, Yann C. Klimentidis et al.. The Journals of Gerontology Series B, 2025-04-18
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Except for the visual-spatial memory test, nonlinear approaches provided a better fit than linear methods to model the associations of sedentary time with other cognitive outcomes. For these outcomes, segmented regression models showed that, although effect sizes were small, higher sedentary time was associated with better cognitive performance up to a threshold of sedentary time that varied from 9.7 to 12.3 hr per day. Above this threshold, the association between sedentary time and cognitive performance was attenuated toward the null or became negative (for the symbol substitution test only). As accounted by our nonlinear approach, the association between sedentary time and cognitive performance may shift from positive to null or negative above a 10-12-hr threshold among older adults. A combination of device-based and self-report assessments of sedentary behavior is needed to better understand these nonlinear associations.
Key findings
- Except for the visual-spatial memory test, nonlinear approaches provided a better fit than linear methods to model the associations of sedentary time with other cognitive outcomes.
- For these outcomes, segmented regression models showed that, although effect sizes were small, higher sedentary time was associated with better cognitive performance up to a threshold of sedentary time that varied from 9.7 to 12.3 hr per day.
- Above this threshold, the association between sedentary time and cognitive performance was attenuated toward the null or became negative (for the symbol substitution test only).
- As accounted by our nonlinear approach, the association between sedentary time and cognitive performance may shift from positive to null or negative above a 10-12-hr threshold among older adults.
- A combination of device-based and self-report assessments of sedentary behavior is needed to better understand these nonlinear associations.
Why it matters
In this UK Biobank analysis, higher sedentary time was associated with slightly better cognitive performance up to a threshold of about 9.7 to 12.3 hours per day, above which the association weakened or turned negative. These are small observational associations and do not show that sedentary behaviour prevents or causes cognitive decline.
Study details
- Participants32,875
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journals of Gerontology Series B) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series B: journal h-index 225 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” 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 | 4 / 4 | 32,875 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.1× 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 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author David A. Raichlen: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Southern California: institution h-index 1,521 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40247819) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Maltagliati, S., Aslan, D. H., Sayre, M. K., Bharadwaj, P. K., Ally, M., Lai, M. H. C., et al. (2025). Nonlinear Associations of Accelerometer-Based Sedentary Time With Cognitive Functions in the UK Biobank. The Journals of Gerontology Series B. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaf071
Vancouver
Maltagliati S, Aslan DH, Sayre MK, Bharadwaj PK, Ally M, Lai MHC, et al. Nonlinear Associations of Accelerometer-Based Sedentary Time With Cognitive Functions in the UK Biobank. The Journals of Gerontology Series B. 2025. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbaf071. PMID: 40247819.
BibTeX
@article{maltagliati2025-40247819,
author = {Maltagliati, Silvio and Aslan, Daniel H. and Sayre, M. Katherine and Bharadwaj, Pradyumna K. and Ally, Madeline and Lai, Mark H. C. and Wilcox, Rand R. and Klimentidis, Yann C. and others},
title = {{Nonlinear Associations of Accelerometer-Based Sedentary Time With Cognitive Functions in the UK Biobank}},
journal = {The Journals of Gerontology Series B},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbaf071},
pmid = {40247819},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaf071}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.