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Thesis: Physical
activity and perceived cognitive decline in older women
Supervisors: Professor
Wendy Brown, Dr Yvette Miller, Dr Nancy Pachana
University: School
of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland
Purpose
of the study:
To explore the relationship between physical activity
and perceived cognitive decline in the older cohort.
To identify the variables which may mediate that relationship.
Preliminary
Analyses/Exclusions
Women from the Older cohort who did not have complete
responses to the physical activity and memory items
at Surveys 2 and 3 were excluded from the sample (6018
excluded). Women who reported diagnosed psychological
or neurological conditions, or the use of psychological
or neurological medications, were also excluded (4407
excluded). These conditions and medications are known
to be detrimental to cognitive functioning.
Stage
One Analyses
Univariate relationships between physical activity (defined
as Exercise Status at Survey 3), perceived cognitive
decline (as measured by self-report on the MACQ at Survey
3), and a range of health, demographic, lifestyle, and
psychological variables were explored. Physical activity
levels and scores on the MACQ were found to be associated,
with highly active women reporting significantly less
cognitive decline than less active women. Both physical
activity levels and scores on the MACQ were found to
be associated with optimism, mental health, health-related
hardiness, alcohol consumption, and indicators of heart
disease. Higher scores on measures of optimism, mental
health, and hardiness were associated with higher levels
of physical activity and reduced reporting of cognitive
decline. Presence of heart disease was associated with
low levels of physical activity and high levels of perceived
cognitive decline. Low to moderate consumption of alcohol
was associated with reduced reporting of cognitive decline
and higher levels of physical activity, relative to
frequent drinking.
Stage
Two Analysis
Those variables that were associated at the univariate
level with both physical activity and scores on the
MACQ will be included in the regression model. The model
indicates a small but significant relationship between
physical activity and perceived cognitive decline, which
is mediated by the use of heart medications, health-related
hardiness, and mental health.
Stage
Three Analysis
Stage Three of the Analysis will commence when Survey
4 data from the Older cohort are available. This analysis
will explore the relationship between changes over time
in physical activity levels and changes over time in
self-reported cognitive decline. Mediating variables
identified in Stage Two will also be included in this
analysis.
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