THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN THE LINK BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND COGNITION IN OLDER ADULTS

Q: How does the study define mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?

MCI is defined as performance at least 1 standard deviation below the mean on at least two of three cognitive tests.

Q: What role do depressive symptoms and social isolation play in the relationship?

Findings indicate PA is associated with lower MCI directly and indirectly through reduced depressive symptoms and social isolation.

Q: How is physical activity (PA) categorized in this study?

PA is categorized into four levels—none, low, moderate, and high—based on intensity and duration across occupational, leisure, and transportation domains.

Sep 29, 2026

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Study of 2,933 adults aged 60+ from NHANES 2011–2014 tests direct and indirect links between physical activity (PA) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with depressive symptoms and social isolation as mediators. PA is grouped into four levels (none, low, moderate, high) using intensity and duration across occupational, leisure, and transportation domains. Social isolation uses a 0–4 ordinal index based on marital status, living alone, leaving-home difficulty, and difficulty engaging socially. Depressive symptoms are assessed with PHQ-9.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background and Aim

Study Design and Population

Measurement of Physical Activity

Assessment of Social Isolation and Depressive Symptoms

Outcomes and Mediation Findings

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 1093 as follows: minimal, mild, and moderate or severe. MCI was defined as performance ≥1 standard deviation below the mean on at least two of three cognitive tests. The path analysis results showed that higher PA levels were directly associated with lower MCI (β = -0.08, p < .001) and indirectly through reduced depressive symptoms and social isolation (β = -0.001, p = .037). These findings highlight the complex relationship between PA and MCI in older adults, suggesting that PA influences cognition through psychosocial factors in this subgroup that is at greater risk of social isolation and mental and physical health vulnerabilities. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3672 THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN THE LINK BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND COGNITION IN OLDER ADULTS Daniel Leme1, Neil Charness2, Dawn Carr1, and Zhe He1, 1. Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States, 2. Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States Although the direct relationship between physical activity (PA) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults has been widely discussed in the literature, evidence on the indirect association through psychosocial factors is limited. This study aimed to verify both direct and indirect associations between PA and MCI, considering depressive symptoms and social isolation as mediators in a subset of 2933 participants (60 years or older) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014. PA was categorized into four levels (none, low, moderate, high) based on the intensity and duration of activity across occupational, leisure, and transportation domains. Social isolation was determined through a 0–4 ordinal scale, where higher scores indicate greater isolation. One point was assigned for each of the following characteristics: being unmarried, living alone, reporting difficulty leaving home, and difficulty engaging in social activities. Depressive symptoms were measured using the PHQ-9

FAQs

How does the study define mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?

MCI is defined as performance at least 1 standard deviation below the mean on at least two of three cognitive tests.

What role do depressive symptoms and social isolation play in the relationship?

Findings indicate PA is associated with lower MCI directly and indirectly through reduced depressive symptoms and social isolation.

How is physical activity (PA) categorized in this study?

PA is categorized into four levels—none, low, moderate, and high—based on intensity and duration across occupational, leisure, and transportation domains.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by WPS_1790064749