Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40119281›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Physical activity and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults: a mediating role of functional fitness.

Qing Yi, Chengwei Yang, Yufei Qi, Xiaowei Feng, Jingyun Tan, Xiaolong Song, Victor Selvarajah Selvanayagam, Jadeera Phaik Geok Cheong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Qing YiFaculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Chengwei YangFaculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Yufei QiDepartment of Physical Education and Research, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Xiaowei FengFaculty of Physical Education, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China.
Jingyun TanFaculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Xiaolong SongFaculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Victor Selvarajah SelvanayagamFaculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. victors@um.edu.my.
Jadeera Phaik Geok CheongFaculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. jadeera@um.edu.my.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe positive correlation between physical activity and cognitive function has been increasingly documented, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

methodsThis study aimed to investigate the association among physical activity (PA), functional fitness, and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults, and to examine whether functional fitness mediates this association. This study utilized a cross-sectional design, encompassing 224 participants aged 65 or above, with 41.07% male and 58.93% female. The data were collected in 2023 using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and Senior Fitness Test. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess associations among the variables, and mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS.

resultsThe results indicated that PA had a moderate positive correlation with cognitive function (r = 0.437, p < 0.01) and with most functional fitness domains. In addition, significant positive correlations were found among most functional fitness domains and cognitive function. The association between PA and cognitive function was partially mediated by cardiorespiratory endurance (Effect = 0.0519, 95% CI= [0.0205, 0.0889]).

conclusionThis study demonstrated a positive correlation between PA and cognitive function in older adults, with cardiorespiratory endurance mediating this association. Our study provides valuable preliminary evidence that cardiorespiratory endurance exerts a mediating role between PA and cognitive function. Future longitudinal research is warranted to elucidate the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms between PA and cognitive function.

Indexed as

CognitionExerciseIndependent LivingPhysical FitnessAgedAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleCognitive performanceElderlyFitnessMediating effectPhysical exercise

Identifiers

PMID40119281
PMCPMC11927187

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.