ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2020
Moderation of the Association Between Chronic Medical Conditions and Functional Limitations Over Time by Physical Activity: Effects of Age.
Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Multimorbidity and functioning disparities in retired older adults: longitudinal trajectories, disease clusters, and mediating mechanisms.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Longitudinal Decline of Exercise Capacity in Male and Female Mice.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2025Article
- Longitudinal Decline of Exercise Capacity in Male and Female Mice.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2024Article
- Physical activity dynamically moderates the impact of multimorbidity on the trajectory of healthy aging over sixteen years.BMC geriatrics · 2024Article
- Article
- Age and cohort trends in disability among Chinese older adults.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- The association between sleep quality and psychological distress among older Chinese adults: a moderated mediation model.BMC geriatrics · 2022Article
- Health-related factors leading to disabilities in Korea: Survival analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Description of Variation in Age of Onset of Functional Limitations of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Compared to Other Racial and Ethnic Groups.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Article
- Association Between Dynamic Trends of Functional Disability and Poverty Among People Aged 45 and Over.Frontiers in public health · 2021Article
- Type of Disaster Exposure Affects Functional Limitations of Older People 6 Years Later.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAge-related accumulation of chronic medical conditions increases disability in older adults. Physical activity potently combats chronic conditions and disability. However, it is unclear whether activity maintenance alleviates the effects of chronic conditions on disability and if this buffering effect differs with age. This study examined whether long-term physical activity can forestall functional limitations in the face of accumulating chronic conditions among middle-aged and older adults.
methodsParticipants (n = 2,119; 54.7% female) were from the Survey of Midlife Development in the United States. Self-reported physical activity, number of chronic conditions, and functional limitations were obtained across 18-20 years. Functional limitations were regressed against the change in chronic conditions, physical activity, and their interaction over time in a multilevel model of change. Baseline age was added as an additional moderator.
resultsFaster accumulation of chronic conditions [B(SE) = 2.08(0.32), p < .001] and steeper declines in activity [B(SE) = -2.29(0.41), p < .001] were associated with greater increases in functional limitations over time. Among those with faster-than-average increases in conditions, those who maintained activity had a slower progression of functional limitations, compared to those whose activity declined more rapidly [B(SE) = -11.18(3.96), p = .005]. Baseline age moderated the buffering effect of activity maintenance; older adults were protected against functional limitations only when conditions accumulated slowly [B(SE) = 0.23(0.08), p = .005].
conclusionThis study provides evidence for an age-dependent buffering effect of activity maintenance on the longitudinal relationship between chronic conditions and functional limitations. Intervention strategies using physical activity to forestall disability should target midlife adults and consider the rate of condition accumulation.
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