Impact of lifestyle factors on quantitative motor and cognitive performance: insights from a longitudinal study on healthy ageing

Abstract

The process of ageing is extremely variable in progression and phenotypic features including significant variations in disease milestones, such as cognitive impairment, frailty, or recurrent falls. Our aim was to analyze the influence of lifestyle factors on motor and cognitive performance in a longitudinal ageing study in older people on healthy ageing. We conducted a longitudinal analysis in a cohort of 744 older participants (mean 70 years) over an 8-year period. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERADplus) test battery, including the Trail Making Test (TMT) for executive function. Gait performance was evaluated by measuring gait velocity. Dual-task performance was assessed by measuring gait velocity while checking boxes. Body Mass Index (BMI) was also recorded. Symptoms of depression were examined using Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-II). We observed higher cognitive functions in individuals adhering to a high-frequency physical activity regimen and a resilient plant-based diet. Additionally, these individuals exhibited lower BDI-II scores and experienced mitigated cognitive decline. Participants who combined high physical activity, a high intake of plant-based foods, and extensive education—referred to as having a high “successful ageing index” —maintained nearly constant CERADplus total scores over the 8-year period. Protective lifestyle factors are linked to better cognitive and motor performance and a slower decline in cognitive function, indicating healthy ageing. Since the factors diet and exercise are modifiable, adopting them may enhance cognitive performance and autonomy in older adults.